Josephine Baltzersen (b. 1992, Copenhagen) graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna with an MFA in 2022. I explore the intersection between classical casting and printing techniques with a focus on storytelling. Inspired by ancient sculptures and polychromy. 

My work challenges societal norms and seek broad representation. Highlighting the significance of intimacy, the works invite reflection on how we define our own stories in a fragmented world where certain voices and perspectives are often marginalised.

In my work, I am focusing on the space between people, where the clean background contrasts with the wavy motifs. Allowing the clean space between the characters to contain the tension and energy that exist between them. I seek to create a fluid, limitless space where close relations can breathe and unfold safely. 

I’m exploring the potential of colors in relation to storytelling. How can colors help unfold the stories as opposed to the pure works without. What layers of detail can they provide? Rooted in color symbolism, particularly inspired by ancient sculptures, polychrome, and how storytelling has shaped our modern perception of white marble sculptures, I work with the contrast between colorful works and white acrylic plaster reliefs. Colors act as identity markers and are used to nuance the narrative. The works provide multiple perspectives on the same story and encourage reflection on how we define our own stories. 

When looking at ancient marble and plaster artworks today, we are at times only presented with small fragments of the larger works. Some museums are recreating the missing pieces from what they imagine would have been the rest of the story. I find it interesting how a story can be broken into pieces and thus change context. My smaller reliefs are excerpts from larger works, allowing them to exist solely and zooming in on a detailed part of the story, leaving room for our imagination and personal associations to freely construct the rest of the narrative.