Lithics

Lithics is an exploration into the prehistoric origins of human behaviour. Travelling through caves and quarries, forests and valleys across Europe, the work seeks traces of our shared humanity in landscapes once inhabited by Neanderthals.

Central to the work is the uniquely human awareness of mortality. This awareness shapes how we live, think, and act. It manifests in our desire to transcend the finality of life through art, culture, and reshaping the world around us. In these acts, we leave traces where our inner struggles become both visible and tangible. Our will to understand who and what we are drives our curiosity towards the world, fosters a will to explore unknown territories, and makes us feel alive. But it also tends to amplify feelings of isolation and existential angst.

To explore these abstract ideas and ground them in a visual form, Lithics adopts a speculative documentary approach, blending historical research with artistic interpretation. Visually, archaeological sites and remains combine with their contemporary surroundings, forming a bridge between past and present. A variety of motifs emerge: landscapes, artefacts, and everyday finds create narratives that highlight both the scientific significance and emotional resonance of these traces.

The images tend to invite questions rather than offering answers, leaning into their poetic potential and encouraging introspection over the mere transport of information. The project naturally probes the boundaries between fact and fiction, a consequence of its engagement with the prehistoric past, allowing for more freedom in the expression of its ideas and the choice of motifs.

Lithics examines our relentless search for meaning and encourages reflection on those moments when we confront our own smallness.

Justus Lemm is part of Issue 17 by Guest Editor Torbjørn Rødland.