“Making the same journey ten times may give you a sense of repetition, but making it one hundred times can bring renewed sensitivity and joy for every ‘small’ thing encountered along the way.” — Arne Naess
Nordmarka is the vast forest region surrounding Oslo. This new publication explores Leardini’s deep fascination with this remarkable landscape. For many years, Massimo Leardini has used Nordmarka as a source of inspiration and artistic research, particularly during the summer months.
Presented as a limited edition artist’s book, Nordmarka is a visual poem, beautifully printed in two-colour offset in an edition of 500 copies. The photographs featured in this volume were made between 2019 and 2023.
The book also includes reflections by the philosopher Arne Næss.
“During my walks, I have followed paths running from north to south and from west to east, crossing forests and lakes alike. My photographic journey gathers details from both untouched nature and landscapes shaped by human presence. The people of Nordmarka respect the forest, and the forest respects its people. It is a unique relationship of mutual exchange. My aim is to evoke in viewers a sense of reverence, stillness, and serenity found in the natural world, while also encouraging awareness of the need to preserve and protect it.”