Photo: Anne G Henriksen
“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
— Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Werner Anderson (b. 1972, Norway) is a visual artist and documentarist whose work explores the relationship between humanity, nature, and history. Drawing from his experiences in conflict zones, his photography examines themes of memory, identity, and healing.
His ongoing series Pilgrim explores the tradition of pilgrimage as both a spiritual and personal journey, using hand-colored monochrome photography. The series inNatura is an art photography project that explores the relationship between the human body, nature, and the concept of freedom. The project is based on an understanding of nudity as a non-sexualized and non-provocative expression.
Anderson is known for his long-term projects, including SCAR, which documents the aftermath of the 22 July 2011 attacks in Norway. Parallel to his work on SCAR, Werner has, for several years, been working on another important project: The Hibakusha Testimonies, a documentary and art project focusing on testimonies from survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. These testimonies, from people who have suffered the horrific consequences of nuclear weapons, have shaped a powerful project that gives a voice to those who have carried the deep stigmatization and suffering that comes with being a Hibakusha—a “bombed person.”
Photo: Inger Sandberg
When not working on a specific project or in between assignments, Anderson’s passion for photography often leads him to encourage the next generation of young photographers, both in his local community and beyond. This has established Werner as a sought-after speaker and workshop organizer. “To me, inspiration and beauty are everywhere,” he says, “but I tend to sway towards the unperfected, somewhat different, and strange. I am very conscious about the material I choose to present my work on to emphasize the message in my pieces.”
“The greatest thing about constantly developing in my work as an artist,” he adds, “is that I always feel like my journey is just about to begin.”
His work has been exhibited internationally at venues such as the 22 July Memorial Center (Norway), Somerset House (London), Palazzo Bembo (Venice Art Biennale), Nobel Peace Prize Week (Norway), Museo Internacional para la Democracia (Buenos Aires, Argentina), and Edvard Munch’s Studio (Oslo, Norway). Anderson has received support from several foundations and is recognized for his contributions to visual storytelling, including recognition at the Sony World Photography Awards, LensCulture, PX3, IPA, TIFA, and others.
Selected Awards
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