Helga Härenstam – Three Years of Childhood during the Era of Extinction

Review by Gerhard Clausing •

This small artist book presents a large challenge. Swedish photographer Helga Härenstam has created a hand-assembled photobook of 34 images just about 4 1/2 inches square in overall size; there is no text inside, so you are dependent on your reactions to the images and on your intuitions. The title is the first thing to puzzle over. What are we looking at and where is all this going?

I love projects which are not obvious; the title makes reference to three years – which three years are meant and where are they, or have they already gone by? Is this the childhood we sometimes wish to return to, but that is certainly not possible, as we now realize? Are these meant to be someone else’s experiences that we are sharing? What is the meaning of the reference in the title concerning our possible disappearing existence?

Our current situation in many countries mirrors that confusion. Factions fighting each other for dominance are getting increasingly belligerent. Isn’t it natural to wish for a return to a childhood that seemed so much simpler? And then again, when we are honest, our maturity tells us that there were challenges to be faced, even when we were little: in hindsight, jealous classmates and bullies on the playground were just a few things that were troublesome. I had a classmate in first grade who died of blood poisoning. Facing eternity left its mark even then.

Härenstam’s images are full of mystery. She makes excellent use of shadows and vignetting; the subjects are often somewhat hidden and shown in a very secretive manner. Some figures seem almost unreachable, while others are recognizable, both boys and girls. Strange entities and unusual lighting contribute to our trepidation.

We get a strong feeling of longing. When we see Härenstam’s images, we long for a world that is more together. We long for the kind of togetherness that gives us acceptance and reassurance.

The front cover is black and shows a child that looks scratched into a surface, like an etching, with faint gold coloring and a few tones of blue as well. When we are done with the little book, we look at the back cover and are shown what looks like a goldleaf surface that changes its sheen, depending on how you hold it toward the toward the light (last image below). Does this give us some assurance, some feeling of optimism that things might turn positive? It too is a somewhat tentative presentation.

Congratulations for doing a small book with a mighty impact. Lucky are those who can obtain a copy of this enigmatic project, since the edition is limited to 70 copies. A universal conundrum is brought home in a simple yet effective manner that grips us from beginning to end.

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The PhotoBook Journal previously featured Helga Härenstam’s Howling & Humans.

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Gerhard Clausing, Editor of the PhotoBook Journal, is an author and artist from Southern California.

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Helga Härenstam – Three Years of Childhood during the Era of Extinction

Photographer: Helga Härenstam (born in Segerstabyn, Värmland, Sweden; lives in Göteborg, Sweden)

Hardcover with open binding, illustrated; 34 pages, unpaginated; 4.4 x 4.4 inches (11.3 x 11.3 cm); Edition of 70; ISBN 978-91-984928-9-7

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Articles and photographs published in the PhotoBook Journal may not be reproduced without the permission of the PhotoBook Journal staff and the photographer(s). All images, texts, and designs are under copyright by the authors and publishers.