Julia Sunde

“Hjørnesteiner i estetisk veiledning” by Melinda A. Meyer DeMott and Steen Lykke, is the second chapter of the book Estetisk veiledning: Dialog gjennom kunstuttrykk , and my first real introduction to phenomenology and aesthetic guidance. Even so, the ideas didn’t feel distant or theoretical. They felt familiar. The chapter described experiences I have carried for years — in creative work, in relationships, and in the way understanding often forms before I can explain it. Seeing those inner...

“We were all humans until race disconnected us, religion separated us, politics divided us, and wealth classified us.” — Banksy I am choosing to share this seismic moment from my childhood because I see its shadow across continents—amplified, multiplied, and made more brutal. On the day I turned nine, I spent hours searching for my best friend, Copper. She was nowhere to be found. Eventually, my father told me he had shot her that morning. I was stunned. I had known this day might come....

La Petite Mort has matured beside me for over a decade. The composition is inspired by a compilation of three self-portraits I took at the start of 2015 — the year that broke me. The photographs were originally taken for someone I loved. They were beautiful and meant to be cherished, not consumed. I saved them because I knew they deserved more, and that one day I would be able to elevate them. My first attempt came in 2016. I painted a small piece based on one of the images. It felt off,...