There is an ethereal beauty and warm nostalgia that flows from the photographs in Terje Abusdal's "Slash and Burn." In this series, featured in the photographic journal "burn," the artist studied the Forest Finns, Finnish immigrants that practiced slash and burn farming techniques in the forests along the Norwegian-Swedish border. The resulting images evoke a seemingly haunting tranquility, a successful approach to the reflection of the Forest Finns' simultaneous absence and persistence in the world.
Being exposed to the history of the Forest Finns interestingly influences how I view the images I see. The smoke that reoccurs in many of Abusdal's prints reminds me of the agricultural ways of the original Forest Finns, and the ethereal or uninhabited atmosphere evokes a feeling of loss and longing. I think this adds reverence to the landscape I perceive because I ingest it not only as a home, but as a refuge for other human beings that are now long gone. Although every location on earth shares this distinction, to be made aware of the lives and bloodlines that no longer exist add a very important component that allow the viewer to truly ponder the idea of this land as a place that has witnessed the extinction of a people and their culture.
Even though the original people, their customs, and their language are gone, the revival of the Forest Finns' existence through those that feel a connection to them exhibits a truly fascinating instance of historical resurrection. I find it incredible that the current official requirement for being classified as Forest Finn is simply your sense of belonging to the group, as opposed to race. This, to me, reflects the type of harmonious thinking that can unify us: the stories of our pasts can tie us together if we are willing to examine, understand, and accept the actions of our forefathers.
Images from "Slash and Burn" © Terje Abusdal
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