“It’s only when people die that they start to live.”

I stumbled upon these words in an interview with the Danish filmmaker Anders Thomas Jensen back in 2015 shortly before I lost my dad.

I don't recall whether AT was quoting someone or these words were his own. Not that it matters. What matters is that he shared them. A simple orchestration of words arranged into a sentence that not only read but sounded beautiful while also opening a mysterious question.

The line of text opened up a space inside me. A place where I could simply be and breathe while going through a difficult time. It became an anchor, a friend, something to hold on to.

Since, the words have proven to be true. At least for me. I felt the transformation had, and was, taking place.

Today (now a few days ago, October 12th) is my mom's birthday. She would have turned 88. She left us in April.
She was her children and grandchildren’s biggest supporter, a light, a visionary, an artist in her own way. And FUN because SHE loved to have a good time and share that with her loved ones.

I miss her terribly.

Yet, at the same time, as with my dad, my mom is slowly shifting into a new presence, taking on a new life inside me, as I'm sure she is in others she loved and who loved her.

So I thought… What better day to share that opening sentence with you.

Have you had similar experiences? I’d love to hear.

And with that…

WELCOME TO ‘A HARDER LOOK’

Yes, there's a new name for this “news” letter, a place where we can dig a little deeper, together.

Eh?

Well, since my mom passed away, I've been thinking a lot about what to do with this.

Now, I not only believe, but now know, there's tremendous value in stopping up for a moment if one feels a kind of presence. Pay attention. Take a harder look. Follow a curiosity wherever it might lead. And, if worth it, share the result.

Think a kind of investigation. A detective's work. A curious mind trying to dig deeper into the things that make us feel something- photographs, books, art, people, places, chance encounters. The extraordinary hiding in the seemingly ordinary. Why are we drawn to what we are?

Like Anders Thomas’ opening quote, I want A HARDER LOOK to provide and share the kind of spaces that allow one to breathe by simply taking you there.

In this first edition of A HARDER LOOK I share some of the things and people that have provided these essential breathing spaces that have helped me through these recent months.

You'll find some words and visuals on:

NOVELS

Sigrid Adamsson’s ‘Skyerne’

Tarjei Vesaas’ ‘Ice Palace’ and ‘The Birds’

PHOTOGRAPHS

Some photos I made this Summer in Denmark

MUSIC

Josefine Opsahl

Kira Skov

The band Gorgeous

Thanks for sticking around.

‘SKYERNE’ (CLOUDS) BY SIGRID ADAMSSON

What is a friendship really about?

Earlier in the year, I read a review of Danish-Icelandic novelist Sigrid Adamsson’s first book ‘Skyerne’ (Clouds) in the Danish Weekendavisen.
This caught my attention:

“Skyerne (Clouds) is written by an old soul hidden in a young skat (honey).”

That indeed seems to be the case. Skyerne is about a friendship between two younger women known simply as A and O (both late 20s) who find themselves on the verge of transitioning from being young adults into the next chapter of their lives, fighting to get their careers off the ground and finding deeper meaning in their lives.

As friends, A and O have a profound love for each other and spend much time together, ‘downloading’ and sharing experiences. As in most close friendships, they find comfort in how they ‘get’ each other while it’s obvious they’re also an odd match with vastly different attitudes, interests and preferences, taking in the world in vastly different ways.

When one of them looses her footing and ends up in a mental institution, they are forced to face these differences, in each other and in themselves.
Suddenly, neither A nor O are no longer sure who of them sees reality most clearly.

Sigrid Adamsson furthermore utilizes a mysterious narrator(s) that seems to posses an almost cosmic quality while the voice(s) too has its own limitations, blurring the line between what sees and what is being seen.

It’s this combination that gives Skyerne its captivating and mind opening quality. And without spoling anything, the opening quote at the very top of this letter also speaks to what this book ultimately aims to address.

If Skyerne sounds heavy, it’s because it is to a certain degree. Yet, with Adamsson’s mastery of language, beautiful and poetic while tight and cut to the chase, the book never feels like it. It’s almost as if the book could be about anything, because Adamsson’s ‘old soul’ just takes us there, into a space where we can breathe and just be. And it’s a place one wants to return to.
Only good literature does that.

I’ve read the book twice already and don’t recall the last time that happened with a novel. It helped me through a difficult time.
Needless to say, I highly recommend it.
I’m not the only one. Sigrid just got shortlisted for Bogforums Debutantpris 2026.

And! Not only that. For you English speakers and readers here, don’t worry, the book is already being translated, having been sold to 10+ foreign territories, which in itself is highly unusual for a debuting novelist.
How badass is that?

Lastly, I recently had the pleasure of talking to Sigrid Adamsson, who recently also completed her Masters in Journalism at Columbia University, on the Danish Originals podcast.
I can’t wait to share the finished episode with you.

‘THE BIRDS’ AND ‘THE ICE PALACE’ BY TARJEI VESAAS

If Sigrid Adamsson’s Skyerne made me feel connected to an almost cosmic presence, the Norwegian poet and novelist Tarjei Vesaas’ ‘The Ice Palace’ and ‘The Birds’ made me reconnect with nature in a profound way, especially in my native Denmark. And I don’t mean the landscape in itself, but the little things that you can’t see but feel deep in your core.

It was the The British Literature Magazine Granta that put this Norwegian poet and novelist on my radar and these two books literally changed something inside of me. Like a mysterious door had been opened, giving me a lot of energy back. These books were the shit!

Vesaas (1897-1970) has been praised by many as one of the top novelists, not only to come out of Norway but in the world. His language lifts the reader into a different sense of presence, into the inner lives of his characters and the nature they live in. What they see that the rest of us don’t and, not unlike Sigrid Adamsson, make us question who of us see reality, see nature and life in its purest form.

Vesaas was the oldest of three sons. He was born in Vinje, Telemark, Norway where he grew up on the family farm that had been in his family for more than 300 years. As the oldest, Vesaas was supposed to take over. However, his dreams and aspirations of becoming a writer were so powerful, he relinquished the 10 generation family inheritance and pursued his dreams. It wasn’t without a great inner conflict and sense of guilt. What he left behind were wisdom in treasures for us all to enjoy.

Vesaas was a modest man who spent a long times in solitude in nature which is where he found much of the inspiration for the works that would become these masterpieces.

Please do yourself a favor and read them. Find or order the by supporting your local book store. Mine are Stories (Echo Park, LA) and Skylight Books (Los Feliz, LA.)

SOME PHOTOGRAHS I MADE OVER THE SUMMER

This thing about creating space in which one can breathe and feel the very essence of just being is why I photograph. And although photographs are about what they show, it’s really what can’t be seen that drives the motivation to make them.

These 35mm black and white photographs were made in Tisvilde and Hulsig, Denmark, both places my mom loved and passed on that love to us, her children.

The below photos are simply scans from the contact sheets. Can’t wait to make prints of these when I get my dark rooom up and running but that’s a different story…

JOSEFINE OPSAHL

Back in the Spring, I had the pleasure of talking with the immensely talented Danish cellist, composer and performer Josefine Opsahl on Danish Originals.

I wasn’t aware of Josefine and her work until Teresa Lai, the producer of Danish Originals, brought her name on my radar. I’m thankful Teresa did.

Josefine’s indredible performances and recordings is a series of collisions between the traditional aesthetics of classical music and the sounds of the modern world, all performed with top skill, pushing her instrument to the limit. The result is nothing short of unique.

Josefine too is an artist who understands how to create spaces that leave enough breathing space for the listener to vanish in. Especially her album ‘Cytropia’ became and remains important to me.

Here’s an example of one of Josefine’s powerful live performances

And here’s the Danish Originals episode featuring Josefine Opsahl

KIRA SKOV

Speaking of Danish Originals, back in the early Summer, I had such a great and honest conversation with Danish musician, singer/songwriter and composer Kira Skov. Kira has lived a wild life while managed to create a lot of amazing output along the way. If you don’t already know her music and her voice, you should. Kira has also worked with a wealth of some of the best international talent.

Kira will have her first book Liv Forladt (Life Left) out on October 22nd, published by Gutkind. I’m really excited to check out. Without having read it yet, I can assure you won’t be bored.

Can’t wait to also share that episode of Danish Originals with you.

GORGEOUS

Staying in the flowing vein of music, here’s a song I can’t get out of my head by Danish band Gorgeous.

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN…

If you’ve come this, I’m humbled. This letter, the first under the ‘A HARDER LOOK’ is and will always be extra special to me for obvious reasons.

I hope you’ve found it useful in some way. I’d love to hear from you!

On that note, let me round up with this photograph, printed as a silver gelatin (analogue) print. Thank you Marie Louise Friis Levandow for pulling the tricker on that special day.

Mom, always there, never forgotten. I love you.

In loving memory,

Susanne Heering 1938-2026

❤️