MIKKEL HØRLYCK
Denmark
Jørgen, a Mystery
As a photographer, Hørlyck does not doubt for a moment that he has had the honor of photographing a legend. Jørgen? He cheated death. Many times. But he didn’t do it alone. Doctors, nurses and guardians were a great help through the years. They saved him again and again. Jørgen Pedersen should have been dead long ago, considering his age, countless diseases and 40 years of drug abuse. He was a scientist of drugs. Freud of the drug environment. Satan’s favorite. A sophisticated mindset and extroverted being. A rich character. Hørlyck loved photographing Jørgen from their very first meeting in 2016 to their last in 2021.
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
Mikkel Hørlyck (b. 1991) is a freelance photojournalist and visual artist based in Aarhus, Denmark. His projects focus on global issues, social injustice, spirituality and the depth of one’s character. Hørlyck uses photojournalism to investigate the mechanisms of human survival. He approaches his projects with open-minded curiosity and commits himself to be totally engaged in the situations and experiences of those he photographs. His aim is to give a genuine and personal insight into the core of a human crisis. In life, Hørlyck has experienced great love and great loss. In 2016 he was injured in a traffic accident and had to recover from a concussion, back injuries and existential doubt. By 2020, he was again one hundred percent fighting fit. This period was the most insightful time for him, and he applies these experiences in his stories. Hørlyck searches for the universal, hidden and authentic emotions which are at stake for the people whom he photographs. Photographs can reveal fundamental truths which Hørlyck feels a call to communicate – to create healing, understanding and memorable photographs. He uses my will, discipline and courage to advocate for values of community, freedom and progress. He feels a call to tell the stories of people who are facing challenging circumstances. Today, Hørlyck is working on projects, editing the book Jørgen, a Mystery, doing freelance assignments, teaching photography, giving lectures and collaborating with storytellers. Hørlyck has been awarded several prizes for his projects and exhibited extensively in Denmark and Europe.
