nils Karlson
My name is Nils Karlson, and I love dogs.
Though I do not remember the incident, reliable resources confirm I was born 1975 in Düsseldorf / Germany. Now residing in Bochum / Germany, which is awfully far away from the Atlantic Ocean, whose expanse feels like my true soul place. Here I find my mind walking on plains devoid of the dissonant artifacts of human behaviour. On these plains, my mind finds solitude, silence, peace.
My photographic works is based on the quest to create the most quiet representation of my inner self. This process is deeply intertwined with the concept of Bardo, originating from The Tibetan Book of the Dead. Bardo describes an intermediate state, a state of transcendence – originally the state between physical death and rebirth.
To me, we are in a constant state of Bardo – always transcendencing, an existence without beginning or end. Soon I associated this with my love for the vast oceans, wondering about the meaning of the horizon. In many cultures, the horizon used to mark the end of the (known) world – a natural, often even supernatural border. But apparently, the horizon is in constant motion, and no matter how far we sail, we can never reach an end. So how does the perception of life and death change when there is no border, no abyss, no end? The answer which appeals to me the most can be found in The Tibetan Book of the Dead: It is compassion: "I have arrived at the time of death, so now, by means of this death, I will adopt only the attitude of the enlightened state of mind, friendliness and compassion, and attain perfect enlightenment for the sake of all sentient beings as limitless as space. With this attitude, at this special time for the sake of all sentient beings, (...) I will act for the good of all beings.“
Yeah, and I love cats, too.
holga circle
“This very fleeting moment before the night comes with its very own sounds born of darkness, the world is at its quietest. The excitement and possibilities of daylight become faint memories, carried away by the fading light. Colours come to rest, blooming to they most beauty just before they fall asleep and dream in the grays and blacks of night. This is when the day breathes out one last time, and gives us a glimpse of a silence usually invisible to the eye. And now we can rest those eyes, let them breathe out one last time before we become immortal until the day breathes in again.”
Artist: Nils Karlson
Series: Iceland Series - Holga Circle
C-print on photographic paper
Image size: 26 inches x 26 inches
Edition 2 of 15
“This very fleeting moment before the night comes with its very own sounds born of darkness, the world is at its quietest. The excitement and possibilities of daylight become faint memories, carried away by the fading light. Colours come to rest, blooming to they most beauty just before they fall asleep and dream in the grays and blacks of night. This is when the day breathes out one last time, and gives us a glimpse of a silence usually invisible to the eye. And now we can rest those eyes, let them breathe out one last time before we become immortal until the day breathes in again.”
Artist: Nils Karlson
Series: Iceland Series - Holga Circle
C-print on photographic paper
Image size: 26 inches x 26 inches
Edition 2 of 15
“This very fleeting moment before the night comes with its very own sounds born of darkness, the world is at its quietest. The excitement and possibilities of daylight become faint memories, carried away by the fading light. Colours come to rest, blooming to they most beauty just before they fall asleep and dream in the grays and blacks of night. This is when the day breathes out one last time, and gives us a glimpse of a silence usually invisible to the eye. And now we can rest those eyes, let them breathe out one last time before we become immortal until the day breathes in again.”
Artist: Nils Karlson
Series: Iceland Series - Holga Circle
C-print on photographic paper
Image size: 26 inches x 26 inches
Edition 2 of 15
“This very fleeting moment before the night comes with its very own sounds born of darkness, the world is at its quietest. The excitement and possibilities of daylight become faint memories, carried away by the fading light. Colours come to rest, blooming to they most beauty just before they fall asleep and dream in the grays and blacks of night. This is when the day breathes out one last time, and gives us a glimpse of a silence usually invisible to the eye. And now we can rest those eyes, let them breathe out one last time before we become immortal until the day breathes in again.”
Artist: Nils Karlson
Series: Iceland Series - Holga Circle
C-print on photographic paper
Image size: 26 inches x 26 inches
Edition 2 of 15
“This very fleeting moment before the night comes with its very own sounds born of darkness, the world is at its quietest. The excitement and possibilities of daylight become faint memories, carried away by the fading light. Colours come to rest, blooming to they most beauty just before they fall asleep and dream in the grays and blacks of night. This is when the day breathes out one last time, and gives us a glimpse of a silence usually invisible to the eye. And now we can rest those eyes, let them breathe out one last time before we become immortal until the day breathes in again.”
Artist: Nils Karlson
Series: Iceland Series - Holga Circle
C-print on photographic paper
Image size: 26 inches x 26 inches
Edition 2 of 15
“This very fleeting moment before the night comes with its very own sounds born of darkness, the world is at its quietest. The excitement and possibilities of daylight become faint memories, carried away by the fading light. Colours come to rest, blooming to they most beauty just before they fall asleep and dream in the grays and blacks of night. This is when the day breathes out one last time, and gives us a glimpse of a silence usually invisible to the eye. And now we can rest those eyes, let them breathe out one last time before we become immortal until the day breathes in again.”
Artist: Nils Karlson
Series: Iceland Series - Holga Circle
C-print on photographic paper
Image size: 26 inches x 26 inches
Edition 2 of 15
“This very fleeting moment before the night comes with its very own sounds born of darkness, the world is at its quietest. The excitement and possibilities of daylight become faint memories, carried away by the fading light. Colours come to rest, blooming to they most beauty just before they fall asleep and dream in the grays and blacks of night. This is when the day breathes out one last time, and gives us a glimpse of a silence usually invisible to the eye. And now we can rest those eyes, let them breathe out one last time before we become immortal until the day breathes in again.”
Artist: Nils Karlson
Series: Iceland Series - Holga Circle
C-print on photographic paper
Image size: 26 inches x 26 inches
Edition 2 of 15
“This very fleeting moment before the night comes with its very own sounds born of darkness, the world is at its quietest. The excitement and possibilities of daylight become faint memories, carried away by the fading light. Colours come to rest, blooming to they most beauty just before they fall asleep and dream in the grays and blacks of night. This is when the day breathes out one last time, and gives us a glimpse of a silence usually invisible to the eye. And now we can rest those eyes, let them breathe out one last time before we become immortal until the day breathes in again.”
Artist: Nils Karlson
Series: Iceland Series - Holga Circle
C-print on photographic paper
Image size: 26 inches x 26 inches
Edition 2 of 15
“This very fleeting moment before the night comes with its very own sounds born of darkness, the world is at its quietest. The excitement and possibilities of daylight become faint memories, carried away by the fading light. Colours come to rest, blooming to they most beauty just before they fall asleep and dream in the grays and blacks of night. This is when the day breathes out one last time, and gives us a glimpse of a silence usually invisible to the eye. And now we can rest those eyes, let them breathe out one last time before we become immortal until the day breathes in again.”
Artist: Nils Karlson
Series: Iceland Series - Holga Circle
C-print on photographic paper
Image size: 26 inches x 26 inches
Edition 2 of 15
“This very fleeting moment before the night comes with its very own sounds born of darkness, the world is at its quietest. The excitement and possibilities of daylight become faint memories, carried away by the fading light. Colours come to rest, blooming to they most beauty just before they fall asleep and dream in the grays and blacks of night. This is when the day breathes out one last time, and gives us a glimpse of a silence usually invisible to the eye. And now we can rest those eyes, let them breathe out one last time before we become immortal until the day breathes in again.”
Artist: Nils Karlson
Series: Iceland Series - Holga Circle
C-print on photographic paper
Image size: 26 inches x 26 inches
Edition 2 of 15
“This very fleeting moment before the night comes with its very own sounds born of darkness, the world is at its quietest. The excitement and possibilities of daylight become faint memories, carried away by the fading light. Colours come to rest, blooming to they most beauty just before they fall asleep and dream in the grays and blacks of night. This is when the day breathes out one last time, and gives us a glimpse of a silence usually invisible to the eye. And now we can rest those eyes, let them breathe out one last time before we become immortal until the day breathes in again.”
Artist: Nils Karlson
Series: Iceland Series - Holga Circle
C-print on photographic paper
Image size: 26 inches x 26 inches
Edition 2 of 15
“This very fleeting moment before the night comes with its very own sounds born of darkness, the world is at its quietest. The excitement and possibilities of daylight become faint memories, carried away by the fading light. Colours come to rest, blooming to they most beauty just before they fall asleep and dream in the grays and blacks of night. This is when the day breathes out one last time, and gives us a glimpse of a silence usually invisible to the eye. And now we can rest those eyes, let them breathe out one last time before we become immortal until the day breathes in again.”
Artist: Nils Karlson
Series: Iceland Series - Holga Circle
C-print on photographic paper
Image size: 26 inches x 26 inches
Edition 2 of 15
“This very fleeting moment before the night comes with its very own sounds born of darkness, the world is at its quietest. The excitement and possibilities of daylight become faint memories, carried away by the fading light. Colours come to rest, blooming to they most beauty just before they fall asleep and dream in the grays and blacks of night. This is when the day breathes out one last time, and gives us a glimpse of a silence usually invisible to the eye. And now we can rest those eyes, let them breathe out one last time before we become immortal until the day breathes in again.”
Artist: Nils Karlson
Series: Iceland Series - Holga Circle
C-print on photographic paper
Image size: 26 inches x 26 inches
Edition 2 of 15
“This very fleeting moment before the night comes with its very own sounds born of darkness, the world is at its quietest. The excitement and possibilities of daylight become faint memories, carried away by the fading light. Colours come to rest, blooming to they most beauty just before they fall asleep and dream in the grays and blacks of night. This is when the day breathes out one last time, and gives us a glimpse of a silence usually invisible to the eye. And now we can rest those eyes, let them breathe out one last time before we become immortal until the day breathes in again.”
Artist: Nils Karlson
Series: Iceland Series - Holga Circle
C-print on photographic paper
Image size: 26 inches x 26 inches
Edition 2 of 15
unique particles
“During my journeys into solitude, I found multiple variations of silence. There is silence based on low intensity of sound. There is silence in between sounds. There is silence based on a lack of sound. And then there is a more profound silence, based on the lack of sound and its last residue being muffled and absorbed by myriads of snow particles floating in the air and resting on the ground. When the winter gales cease their howling. When the blizzard comes to rest. When you find yourself surrounded by myriads of particles, all unique, and they all are bare silence. And so are you, as you too are bare Earth.”
Artist: Nils Karlson
Series: Iceland Series - Unique Particles
C-print on photographic paper
Image size: 29.4 inches x 29.4 inches
Edition 2 of 15
“During my journeys into solitude, I found multiple variations of silence. There is silence based on low intensity of sound. There is silence in between sounds. There is silence based on a lack of sound. And then there is a more profound silence, based on the lack of sound and its last residue being muffled and absorbed by myriads of snow particles floating in the air and resting on the ground. When the winter gales cease their howling. When the blizzard comes to rest. When you find yourself surrounded by myriads of particles, all unique, and they all are bare silence. And so are you, as you too are bare Earth.”
Artist: Nils Karlson
Series: Iceland Series - Unique Particles
C-print on photographic paper
Image size: 29.4 inches x 29.4 inches
Edition 2 of 15
“During my journeys into solitude, I found multiple variations of silence. There is silence based on low intensity of sound. There is silence in between sounds. There is silence based on a lack of sound. And then there is a more profound silence, based on the lack of sound and its last residue being muffled and absorbed by myriads of snow particles floating in the air and resting on the ground. When the winter gales cease their howling. When the blizzard comes to rest. When you find yourself surrounded by myriads of particles, all unique, and they all are bare silence. And so are you, as you too are bare Earth.”
Artist: Nils Karlson
Series: Iceland Series - Unique Particles
C-print on photographic paper
Image size: 29.4 inches x 29.4 inches
Edition 2 of 15
“During my journeys into solitude, I found multiple variations of silence. There is silence based on low intensity of sound. There is silence in between sounds. There is silence based on a lack of sound. And then there is a more profound silence, based on the lack of sound and its last residue being muffled and absorbed by myriads of snow particles floating in the air and resting on the ground. When the winter gales cease their howling. When the blizzard comes to rest. When you find yourself surrounded by myriads of particles, all unique, and they all are bare silence. And so are you, as you too are bare Earth.”
Artist: Nils Karlson
Series: Iceland Series - Unique Particles
C-print on photographic paper
Image size: 29.4 inches x 29.4 inches
Edition 2 of 15
“During my journeys into solitude, I found multiple variations of silence. There is silence based on low intensity of sound. There is silence in between sounds. There is silence based on a lack of sound. And then there is a more profound silence, based on the lack of sound and its last residue being muffled and absorbed by myriads of snow particles floating in the air and resting on the ground. When the winter gales cease their howling. When the blizzard comes to rest. When you find yourself surrounded by myriads of particles, all unique, and they all are bare silence. And so are you, as you too are bare Earth.”
Artist: Nils Karlson
Series: Iceland Series - Unique Particles
C-print on photographic paper
Image size: 29.4 inches x 29.4 inches
Edition 2 of 15
“During my journeys into solitude, I found multiple variations of silence. There is silence based on low intensity of sound. There is silence in between sounds. There is silence based on a lack of sound. And then there is a more profound silence, based on the lack of sound and its last residue being muffled and absorbed by myriads of snow particles floating in the air and resting on the ground. When the winter gales cease their howling. When the blizzard comes to rest. When you find yourself surrounded by myriads of particles, all unique, and they all are bare silence. And so are you, as you too are bare Earth.”
Artist: Nils Karlson
Series: Iceland Series - Unique Particles
C-print on photographic paper
Image size: 29.4 inches x 29.4 inches
Edition 2 of 15
“During my journeys into solitude, I found multiple variations of silence. There is silence based on low intensity of sound. There is silence in between sounds. There is silence based on a lack of sound. And then there is a more profound silence, based on the lack of sound and its last residue being muffled and absorbed by myriads of snow particles floating in the air and resting on the ground. When the winter gales cease their howling. When the blizzard comes to rest. When you find yourself surrounded by myriads of particles, all unique, and they all are bare silence. And so are you, as you too are bare Earth.”
Artist: Nils Karlson
Series: Iceland Series - Unique Particles
C-print on photographic paper
Image size: 29.4 inches x 29.4 inches
Edition 2 of 15
“During my journeys into solitude, I found multiple variations of silence. There is silence based on low intensity of sound. There is silence in between sounds. There is silence based on a lack of sound. And then there is a more profound silence, based on the lack of sound and its last residue being muffled and absorbed by myriads of snow particles floating in the air and resting on the ground. When the winter gales cease their howling. When the blizzard comes to rest. When you find yourself surrounded by myriads of particles, all unique, and they all are bare silence. And so are you, as you too are bare Earth.”
Artist: Nils Karlson
Series: Iceland Series - Unique Particles
C-print on photographic paper
Image size: 29.4 inches x 29.4 inches
Edition 2 of 15
“During my journeys into solitude, I found multiple variations of silence. There is silence based on low intensity of sound. There is silence in between sounds. There is silence based on a lack of sound. And then there is a more profound silence, based on the lack of sound and its last residue being muffled and absorbed by myriads of snow particles floating in the air and resting on the ground. When the winter gales cease their howling. When the blizzard comes to rest. When you find yourself surrounded by myriads of particles, all unique, and they all are bare silence. And so are you, as you too are bare Earth.”
Artist: Nils Karlson
Series: Iceland Series - Unique Particles
C-print on photographic paper
Image size: 29.4 inches x 29.4 inches
Edition 2 of 15
“During my journeys into solitude, I found multiple variations of silence. There is silence based on low intensity of sound. There is silence in between sounds. There is silence based on a lack of sound. And then there is a more profound silence, based on the lack of sound and its last residue being muffled and absorbed by myriads of snow particles floating in the air and resting on the ground. When the winter gales cease their howling. When the blizzard comes to rest. When you find yourself surrounded by myriads of particles, all unique, and they all are bare silence. And so are you, as you too are bare Earth.”
Artist: Nils Karlson
Series: Iceland Series - Unique Particles
C-print on photographic paper
Image size: 29.4 inches x 29.4 inches
Edition 2 of 15
“During my journeys into solitude, I found multiple variations of silence. There is silence based on low intensity of sound. There is silence in between sounds. There is silence based on a lack of sound. And then there is a more profound silence, based on the lack of sound and its last residue being muffled and absorbed by myriads of snow particles floating in the air and resting on the ground. When the winter gales cease their howling. When the blizzard comes to rest. When you find yourself surrounded by myriads of particles, all unique, and they all are bare silence. And so are you, as you too are bare Earth.”
Artist: Nils Karlson
Series: Iceland Series - Unique Particles
C-print on photographic paper
Image size: 29.4 inches x 29.4 inches
Edition 2 of 15
“During my journeys into solitude, I found multiple variations of silence. There is silence based on low intensity of sound. There is silence in between sounds. There is silence based on a lack of sound. And then there is a more profound silence, based on the lack of sound and its last residue being muffled and absorbed by myriads of snow particles floating in the air and resting on the ground. When the winter gales cease their howling. When the blizzard comes to rest. When you find yourself surrounded by myriads of particles, all unique, and they all are bare silence. And so are you, as you too are bare Earth.”
Artist: Nils Karlson
Series: Iceland Series - Unique Particles
C-print on photographic paper
Image size: 29.4 inches x 29.4 inches
Edition 2 of 15
earth stands still
Diptych
Earth Stands Still series:
In many cultures, the horizon used to mark the end of the (known) world – a natural, often even supernatural border. But apparently, the horizon is in constant motion, and no matter how far we sail, we can never reach an end. So how does the perception of life and death change when there is no border, no abyss, no end?
Air and water – two elements intertwined in a state of concurrency.
Artist: Nils Karlson
Archival pigment print
Image Size: 23.6" x 23.6"
Edition 1 of 10
Diptych
Earth Stands Still series:
In many cultures, the horizon used to mark the end of the (known) world – a natural, often even supernatural border. But apparently, the horizon is in constant motion, and no matter how far we sail, we can never reach an end. So how does the perception of life and death change when there is no border, no abyss, no end?
Air and water – two elements intertwined in a state of concurrency.
Artist: Nils Karlson
Archival pigment print
Image Size: 23.6" x 23.6"
Edition 1 of 10
Triptych
Earth Stands Still series description:
In many cultures, the horizon used to mark the end of the (known) world – a natural, often even supernatural border. But apparently, the horizon is in constant motion, and no matter how far we sail, we can never reach an end. So how does the perception of life and death change when there is no border, no abyss, no end?
Artist: Nils Karlson
Series: Earth Stands Still
Archival pigment print
Image Size: 19.7" x 19.7"
Edition 1 of 8
Earth Stands Still series description:
In many cultures, the horizon used to mark the end of the (known) world – a natural, often even supernatural border. But apparently, the horizon is in constant motion, and no matter how far we sail, we can never reach an end. So how does the perception of life and death change when there is no border, no abyss, no end?
At the end of times we will meet at the lighthouse.
Artist: Nils Karlson
Series: Earth Stands Still
Archival pigment print
Dimensions: 23.6in × 23.6in
Edition 1 of 25
Earth Stands Still series description:
In many cultures, the horizon used to mark the end of the (known) world – a natural, often even supernatural border. But apparently, the horizon is in constant motion, and no matter how far we sail, we can never reach an end. So how does the perception of life and death change when there is no border, no abyss, no end?
Light acts like a living creature. Its constant state of transition is displayed in tones and colours, creating a canvas of visual silence.
Artist: Nils Karlson
Series: Earth Stands Still
Archival pigment print
Dimension: 23.6in × 23.6in
Edition 1 of 25
Earth Stands Still series description:
In many cultures, the horizon used to mark the end of the (known) world – a natural, often even supernatural border. But apparently, the horizon is in constant motion, and no matter how far we sail, we can never reach an end. So how does the perception of life and death change when there is no border, no abyss, no end?
The open mind can reflect emotions on a medium both with inherent knowledge and unconditional humility.
Artist: Nils Karlson
Series: Earth Stands Still
Archival pigment print
Image Size: 29.5" x 29.5"
Edition 1 of 25
Earth Stands Still series description:
In many cultures, the horizon used to mark the end of the (known) world – a natural, often even supernatural border. But apparently, the horizon is in constant motion, and no matter how far we sail, we can never reach an end. So how does the perception of life and death change when there is no border, no abyss, no end?
Breathe in, breathe out. One breathing cycle.
Artist: Nils Karlson
Series: Earth Stands Still
Archival pigment print
Image Size: 19.7" x 19.7"
Edition 1 of 25
Earth Stands Still series description:
In many cultures, the horizon used to mark the end of the (known) world – a natural, often even supernatural border. But apparently, the horizon is in constant motion, and no matter how far we sail, we can never reach an end. So how does the perception of life and death change when there is no border, no abyss, no end?
Where both light and darkness radiate, I shall dwell.
Artist: Nils Karlson
Series: Earth Stands Still
Archival pigment print
Image Size: 19.7" x 19.7"
Edition 1 of 25
Earth Stands Still series description:
In many cultures, the horizon used to mark the end of the (known) world – a natural, often even supernatural border. But apparently, the horizon is in constant motion, and no matter how far we sail, we can never reach an end. So how does the perception of life and death change when there is no border, no abyss, no end?
I find my mind walking on plains devoid of the dissonant artifacts of human behaviour. On these plains, my mind finds solitude, silence, peace.
Artist: Nils Karlson
Series: Earth Stands Still
Archival pigment print
Image Size: 19.7" x 19.7"
Edition 1 of 25
Earth Stands Still series description:
In many cultures, the horizon used to mark the end of the (known) world – a natural, often even supernatural border. But apparently, the horizon is in constant motion, and no matter how far we sail, we can never reach an end. So how does the perception of life and death change when there is no border, no abyss, no end?
When your body and mind separate, the dharmata will appear, pure and clear yet hard to discern, luminous and brilliant, with terrifying brightness, shimmering like a mirage on a plain in spring. Do not be afraid of it, do not be bewildered. This is the natural radiance of your own dharmata, therefore recognize it.
(The Tibetan Book of the Dead, 2nd Bardo)
Artist: Nils Karlson
Series: Earth Stands Still
Archival pigment print
Image Size: 19.7" x 19.7"
Edition 1 of 25
“This very fleeting moment before the night comes with its very own sounds born of darkness, the world is at its quietest. The excitement and possibilities of daylight become faint memories, carried away by the fading light. Colours come to rest, blooming to they most beauty just before they fall asleep and dream in the grays and blacks of night. This is when the day breathes out one last time, and gives us a glimpse of a silence usually invisible to the eye. And now we can rest those eyes, let them breathe out one last time before we become immortal until the day breathes in again.”
Artist: Nils Karlson
Series: Iceland Series - Holga Circle
C-print on photographic paper
Image size: 26 inches x 26 inches
Edition 2 of 15