Photo: Marianne Toppe
My name is Eli Mai Huang Nesse, I'm an artist, filmmaker and scenographer from Sogndal based in Oslo, Norway. I studied fine arts at the Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm and graduated with a master's degree from the Art Academy in Oslo in 2022. During my studies I focused on creative writing, moving image installations and forming collaborations with the theater field.
How do you deal with the fact that everything suddenly can fall apart? Is a question I’ve asked myself recently. When you can feel the presence of tension simmering, gradually growing and piling up. How do you live in an atmosphere with constant pressure, prevent reaching a bursting point or rebuild after destruction? I’m looking into the need for safety nets, coping mechanisms and the maintenance of hope in collapsing surroundings.
Trying to find some answers I’ve been going to areas prone to rockslides. Places where tall mountains suddenly, and quite randomly, release huge masses and sends it rolling down towards roads and villages. With my camera I have visited people who have shared incredible stories, approached roads abandoned due to avalanche danger and traveled into the core of mountains to film tunnel workers in action. During my trips I noticed the word «luck» was brought up quite frequently, which made me wonder where randomness, purpose, fortune and magic connects.
My latest work was being a set and costume designer for the play 'Sukker' by Linda Gathu at the Norwegian Theatre. The year before I had a solo show at Kunstnernes Hus. Otherwise I have participated in exhibitions, projects and screenings at Høstututstillingen in Oslo, Sogn og Fjordane Art Museum, Meteor International Theatre Festival in Bergen, Tempo Documentary Festival in Stockholm, Bergen International Film Festival, Arctic Moving Image & Film Festival in Harstad, SEA-nordic film festival in Seattle, Anafi International Film Festival in Greece and more.