"While I love "straight" photography, I am intrigued by artists that bring something new to the medium and push the boundaries. Kansanen, a multidisciplinary artist who works within the context of photography, does just that."
Anne Kelly / Director / photo-eye gallery / Santa Fe, NM

‘Numen’ is the first monograph of Finnish artist Ville Kansanen based on a homonymous series of photography, installation and land art. From 2015 to 2022, Kansanen explored the Mojave desert, camping for long periods; creating installation- and land works inspired by neolithic art and celestial bodies. This "notebook style" monograph provides further insight into his explorations in the desert and contains photographic works by the artist signifying his spiritual communication with nature as well as sketches and artist notes showing his process.

The book concludes with a 3000-word essay outlining the concepts and ideas that formed the basis for the work. The essay is translated into English, Korean, and Finnish.