Mother and Son

2022-Ongoing

“Mother and Son” portrays the
relationship between my mother and me.

In 2015 my father died, an event that in
many way changed the dynamic in the
relationship with my mother.

The shared experience of losing a close
family member brought us closer
together, in a mutual supporting bond.

Over time, we became close friends.

In his artistic work, the artist Kasper Dalkarl (born in 1991, Helsinki) delves into the relationship between mother and son. Throughout art history, depictions of the adult son alongside his aging mother have been rare. Instead, the art world has been marked by embellished idyllic images of young mothers with their infants or, in contrast, portraits of very elderly mothers.

While visual works highlighting the “father-son” or “mother-daughter” relationships are more common in the history of both photography and art, the “mother-son” relationship is addressed infrequently. This project is a collaboration between Kasper Dalkarl and his mother, Åsa Dalkarl-Gustavsson, photographed in locations and elements of personal significance to them both. Water is a recurring motif, symbolizing many things: life, death, and rebirth.

In the photographs, Kasper Dalkarl reflects on the shifts in the adult relationship that emerged after the passing of Kasper’s father, Ole Gustavsson, in 2015. This traumatic and unexpected death was a shock for both mother and son, altering their relationship during the grieving process. Instead of the stereotypical expectation of the son stepping into his father’s shoes, a mutual and friendly relationship developed.

The traumatic experience led to a transition from a traditional mother-son dynamic to a more mature relationship. Kasper and Åsa supported each other through these changes, shaping their shared journey over the years. This subtle shift in their relationship, discovered by Kasper Dalkarl several years later, laid the foundation for the initial images in this artistic work.

Beyond the mother-son relationship, another important element emerges in the project – the natural aging process. Similar to the limited portrayal of mother-son relationships, there is a clear lack of representation of women in the age group that Kasper’s mother represents. With this project, the photographer aims not only to visualize the relationship in connection with places important to them, but also to normalize the portrayal of women. Through the grieving process after Ole’s passing, deep discussions arose between Kasper and Åsa, highlighting shared experiences that were challenging to articulate.

Could it be that the close family bond between mother and son creates an ability to sense what the other feels? Both experienced strong feelings of discomfort and worry on Ole’s last day, despite being hundreds of kilometres away from the place where he passed away.

Subconsciously, they both knew he had departed before the death was confirmed. Similarly, Ole has visited them in their dreams frequently, dressed the same way and delivering similar messages to them both, a realization that became clear only after discussions with each other. An inexplicable bond shared between mother and son, regardless of their physical locations.

Kasper Dalkarl (b. 1991, Helsinki, Finland) is a visual artist. He graduated as Bachelor of Culture and Arts in 2017 and Master of Photography at Novia University of Applied Sciences in 2022. In his photography he explores storytelling, myths, and portraiture, positioning his subjects in natural environments, created with cinematic light and practical effects he gives life to the stories he wishes to tell.

Mother and Son was part of Kasper Dalkarl's
Master's Thesis which can be read here.