PHOTOGRAPHER SUPINATRA @supinatra
INTERVIEW JESPER GUDBERGSEN @yessirjesper
What is your earliest memory of beauty?
My very first memory of beauty is also the earliest childhood memory, so it is very dear to me. I lay in a crib with a railing and watched orange flowers burning in the sun on the windowsill against the blue sky. Thinking about it now, I cannot help but draw a parallel with my work, with my admiration for nature. Is this a coincidence?
Tell us about your fascination with nature and how you came to work with natural materials instead of makeup?
As far back as I can remember, I have had a close relationship with nature, especially as a child. But I grew up, and for a long time this connection was interrupted. During this time, I was unsuccessfully looking for myself in the areas of design and felt lost. However, I was following various artists on Instagram and their work was expanding my scope. My discoveries began in the first months of quarantine, studying stopped taking all my strength and energy and time was freed up. I remember the day when I bought the mushrooms very well. I forgot about cooking as I was admiring the ribbed surface under the mushroom cap. So I tried on a mushroom cap on my ear, eyes, mouth, fingers, took a photo and posted it on Instagram. From that moment on, development began in this direction, but only after a long time did I realize that it was a return to childhood hobbies, only in a new way. Spring was just approaching, and I was learning to admire nature again. And in order to “satisfy” this admiration, I needed to interact with her. Using my own body was a natural decision. Another pleasant opportunity was the creation of natural makeup. I don’t really like ordinary makeup, and it rarely suits me, but in the case of plants, I received boundless creativity and pleasure.
Some of your looks are deceivingly simple in nature, but must be quite elaborate to create. What is your process and how long does it take?
Most often, I create my images spontaneously. Flowers, leaves and buds suggest places on my body themselves. Sometimes ideas arise on their own, and most often that happens before bedtime. The process itself is meditative and stressful at the same time: I smear the skin with a light cream and glue the petals with eyelash glue. Sometimes, if the elements are light and small, I can even use saliva. It takes a little time – on average 15-30 minutes. But I spend much more time taking photos and choosing the best shots.
There is an air of mystery surrounding your page. Please share something we would be surprised to learn about you
I find it difficult to reveal my identity on my page, so I’m glad that secrecy can be a plus. Here are a couple of facts that might surprise you:
What is the conversation about the environment and sustainability like around you, online and irl? What are some of the issues you feel strongly about and what do you do to implement change ?
I hope my creativity will help people look at nature from a new angle, make them love it even more and that through this love, they will start treating it more carefully
What are some of your favorite looks you’ve ever created ?
Most of all I like simple images that can “tickle the brain”, where elements of nature are integrated into everyday life. My favorite moments are when I am outside creating the images, and nature is all around me.
What does beauty mean to you?
Beauty for me is one of the broadest concepts. I can see her in a fold of skin, in a cracked wall, in a wilted flower. The concept of beauty is incredibly flexible. This year, I rediscovered the incredible beauty of nature, which happened because I was looking to plants as sources for my work. Therefore, I think beauty is a muscle within us, and we can continuously train and develop this muscle throughout our life.
