Virtual Student Exhibition: Sort Sol

Søren Solkaer's Sort Sol is a photographic series that depicts the "murmurations" of starlings—the forms made by flocks in flight. The Danish term "sort sol” refers to these murmurations, which are known to temporarily obscure the sun. The word derives from “murmur,” or the soft sound of the starlings’ flight calls and fluttering wings as they move together in midair. Starling murmurations take myriad forms—from abstract to representational, and Solkær has captured this phenomenon across Europe since 2017.

In 2024, photography students from West Seattle High School and Nathan Hale High School spent time learning about the exhibition and Solkaer’s artistic process and proceeded to create their own photographic works inspired by the exhibition, presented here as a special virtual gallery.

The National Nordic Museum thanks the participating students and teachers for their contributions and efforts.

Note: the photographs below are organized by school. Examples of works of inspiration from the original exhibition have been interspersed, and are cited accordingly.