Karoline HJORTH & Riitta IKONEN create collaborative portraits that explore the relationship between humans and the natural world. Eyes as Big as Plates (2010- ongoing) is an exploration of relations across beings, challenging conventional narratives on how humans relate to their surroundings across diverse cultures and landscapes. Through a combination of photography, wearable sculpture, action research and activism, the Norwegian-Finnish artist duo calls for a collective and synchronized environmental stewardship.
In Eyes as Big as Plates, each work grows from a slow, tactile dialogue with place: moss is gathered, stones arranged, leaves woven—not to dress the sitter, but to extend their presence into the landscape. The portrayed individuals—retired farmers, teachers, wanderers—are active participants, shaping the images with the artists. These portraits reveal a gentle symbiosis where body and nature mirror and transform each other.
