
Every summer was about spending time in Estonia where my parental grandfather wasborn. As my family started to revisit when Estonia gained its independence in 1991. We usually travelled with the ferry from Stockholm when going to Elbiku, a coastal village inthe outskirts of Haapsalu. The ferry was always a mystery to me – a portal to my grandfather’s past. I started to document moments that my grandfather has shared withme from his up bringing in Estonia. It became a dialogue that we had – I tried to reflecthis stories in the images or film sequences I collected. Somehow the past and presentresonated with one another, as I got to see the environments that he narrated in reallife. I could directly connect the scenography with his stories.
Over time my filming and photographing has become more about my own position and memories towards the environments I am revisiting – how I am reflecting myself in thechanging landscapes as a result of the newly found independence. I somehow feel aconnection to the transformation. Maybe because I witnessed the changes in the environments that were familiar to me – every summer I returned I noticed a change in my surroundings. I could feel the winds of independence as I was growing up.
During my stay at Copper Leg, I have reflected on in-between spaces that are connected to Estonia, mainly focusing on the ferry travelling from Stockholm to Tallinn. As I have been travelling to the residency with my photographic equipment. To me, the space mirrors worlds within worlds and acts as a historical reflection of Estonia’s history. Soundscapes of mixed languages and shadows of passengers are reflected within the glass world as we are travelling across the Baltic Sea. The connection itself is a reflection of being connected to both countries – It is to me the definition of an inbetween space. Here, I have been photographing the cabin dressed in natural projections from the window. The tiny space acting as a camera obscura. An upside-down world as I am isolated at sea – In search of times that have passed.
Working in the darkroom has been a time for me to reflect on my topic, slowly and carefully developing my images. I am drawn to slowness, it allows me to take a step back and to be present in the moment. Similar to the ferry, the darkroom becomes a parallel world where I can solely focus on my image-making – I adjust to the darkness.
As I put my images together, I look for a narrative to describe the feeling of being inbetween. The images go in and out between the external and internal. It is for me a door to a different world.
Karolina

Karolina Bergman Engman is an artist who works with film, photography and
installation. In her practice she explores spaces that intertwine collective memory with
the personal. Through the camera she explores her perception to understand the
different layers of a place – to a point where the interior and exterior are merged.
Bergman Engman received her MFA from Malmö Art Academy in 2024 and holds a BFA
from Bergen Art Academy.