Terje Håkonsen, Bygdøy Pantern (1996)
This image captures the legendary snowboarder Terje Håkonsen in a moment of pure mastery — a frozen arc of grace and control, leaping from the towering
cliffs of Bygdøy, Oslo in the golden light of a late afternoon.
Photographer Alexander Kayiambakis was floating in the water below, armed with a Hasselblad and just one chance to get the shot. It was, in the words of Henri Cartier-Bresson, “the decisive moment” — that
perfect, fleeting instant when form, light, and meaning align.
Look closely at the mountainside, and you’ll see a group of local boys sitting on a rocky ledge, watching intently. They are not in the background — they are part of the scene, embedded in the cliff itself, silent witnesses to a moment that would become legend.
Alexander Kayiambakis is represented in the renowned Møller Collection, which will be permanently housed in the new photo center Dech/Fotografiska in 2028 — a recognition that reflects the depth and distinctiveness of his photographic voice.
His work explores the intersection between analog and digital processes through a material, open-ended approach. The images are intuitive and quietly observational, often inviting the viewer to pause and see the familiar anew. Rooted in decades of image-making, his practice is shaped by both deliberate choices and the unexpected.
Deeply influenced by landscapes — both natural and built — Kayiambakis often works in coastal and rugged environments, where human presence meets elemental forces. His compositions reflect a sensitivity to space, light, and atmosphere, capturing the subtle tension between permanence and impermanence.
With a background as a four-time Norwegian skateboarding champion and former team rider for Santa Cruz, his photographic gaze is informed by movement, spatial awareness, and a deep connection to rhythm and flow — qualities that echo through his visual storytelling.
He studied at the Norwegian Film School and is currently Head of Studies at the Department of Art and Design Education at OsloMet.
