Child’s play

American photographer Dorthe Alstrup specialises in staged reality: "What happens between the characters within the frame is never completely clear. The narrative is left unresolved. It is up to the viewer to use his or her imagination to build a narrative," she says of her eerie images. At first glance, they appear to be rather mundane vignettes of youth doing what youth does best: hanging out, messing around. But the odd settings and situations provoke further questions. What are three kids doing rowing off in a canoe in the dark? What's the story behind the oddly-dressed girl in the playroom? The urban picnic?
Elaine Hake

Dorthe Alstrup is one of the entrants in Critical Mass 2007