Tangled

We are surrounded by plastic. Every day, we are exposed to plastic particles, even though we don’t always see them. They pose a serious threat to entire ecosystems and human health.

Charlotte Clemensen started her work Tangled in September 2022, initially inspired by a desire to raise awareness of the harmful effects of plastic waste. The inspiration came from her research into marine life at risk of becoming entangled in plastic. Over time, the project has expanded to also explore more personal forms of entanglement – the complexities, vulnerabilities and relationships that can leave us feeling caught, connected or unable to break free.

Charlotte Clemensen meets individuals outside in broad daylight. She gives them a plastic bag and invites them to get entangled. They slowly open a hole through which they can meet the photographer’s gaze. The intense portrait sessions evoke unique reactions and feelings; they offer glimpses of what it feels like to be tangled or untangled – twisted into a messy mass or caught in a complexity, but also with the possibility of breaking free.

In addition to telling individual stories, the ongoing Tangled project opens up a space for different forms of expression, experiences and interpretations of contemporary entanglements. The people who were first observed and portrayed through the camera lens are now observing the viewer of the images through the self-made hole in the plastic bag.

How does that make you feel?