(Bjørn Venø, image from: Chapter 4 of The MANN series, 2007-10, 90x130cm)

A update on what is happening with my work.

As an artist I’m highly self centred. I think I’m the bees knees and on top of that the subject of my work is myself. To ad salt to the wound when I get depressed I go inside my self ignoring family and friends. I have not spoken to my Nan for maybe three months nor have I taken the initiative to see friends.

I do not like this about my self, however there is one redeeming factor.

Though my work is centred around me my motivation to make it is to give something to humanity and the world. Either to help create a better understanding and openness around depression and anxiety or to help people widen their horizons.

I sometimes wonder if you can connect with people through pictures, like the connection one can get between musician and audience? It feels to me that, No is the immediate answer, the photographer and viewer are disconnected from one and other whilst the musician is directly connected to the audience allowing them to feed of each other.

A picture can have a different kind of power, it can captivate an audience by stimulating the imagination. It does not have to tell you what to feel, rather it can let you create your own story. Many images however conform to standard archetypes and what you get is only surface. But if the artist is able to give the viewer a sense that their is something to discover and that which is seen at a glance is only the first layer then one has a image with grate power. These are the images I try to create, and I believe the images from the MANN series achieve greatness. I think my work is up there with the best and one day they will become iconic pictures.

This is not necessarily so with my web based work such as PXsnatch and BOX (Holy Artist) which is made to be of a more light-hearted nature. This work comes from a need to be more immediate with getting work out to the public. My “maine” work is of a more long winded nature, This time round it has taken me a year to prepare and plan for two pictures (depression included). Whilst I see the web work as an attempt to directly connect with people and let them be part of the creation process. However as time passes I think even these projects will become more interesting, some art just needs time to grow.

The work that I’m currently burning for is hidden from you. There is a body of work (8 pictures and one video) that has not been exhibited and will not be until I have the funding to do it. It is no longer viable for me to fund it myself. [EDIT 19.06.07: I have changed my mind, you can now see the images on my web page] I also did a collaboration piece with Malin Ståhl consisting of 5 pictures, that is waiting to be shown.

(Malin Ståhl and Bjørn Venø “Bride in Water” 2010 90x60cm)

I have two books in the works, but once again funding is an issue.

I’m currently studying at the Royal College of Art where I’m reflecting on my practice and experimenting with video. My interest is the Hero and the Fool. I’m looking at heroic figures such as Thor Heyerdahl and Audie Murphy through the eyes of the fool.

I put my soul and life in to my work and when I look at it I see something alive.