Projects

“SERIES OF FRAGMENTS” (2023- )

"Series of Fragments" is about fragmented existence. The world feels dystopic today – things we used to find normal feel tilted. People seem to have created their own little worlds where they exist with their own politics, mindset and values. It is difficult to find a common ground or sense of wholeness – almost like we live in different time zones – in different cities – even when we walk the same streets. The series portrays life as a feedback loop – people become echoes of themselves. There is a fragility to everything, and the surroundings feel chaotic. In other words, the world appears to be broken – like a puzzle that needs to be put back together again. But the loop continues to run… What happens when the echo loses its source?

“ENCOUNTERS” (KOHTAAMISIA)

“Encounters” (Kohtaamisia) is an extensive photo series about street-based social workers of City of Helsinki, whose aim is to find people that have dropped out of the social system and guide them back to the social services. The project was done in collaboration with the City of Helsinki. “Encounters” was shot between February-August 2021.

Minna and Touko formed the pair responsible for the South of Helsinki.

Street-based social workers

The photo series shows the world of the street-based social workers who disembark in pairs across Helsinki: South, West, East and North. Their clients include, for example, homeless people, individuals struggling with substance abuse problems and memory illnesses. The goal is to help these people get back to the social system.

The aim is to bring awareness about the street-based social work by making an exhibition and photo book.

By getting the word out, more people can get help faster. It is easy to end up on the street but difficult to get out.

She allowed me to take the photograph because it was her birthday on the day of the shooting.

Encounters

Besides making a narrative with variety of scenes, details and atmospheres, the aim was to portray the clients of the social workers in a dignified manner - as people, not as problems. The style also matched how the social workers treated their clients - with respect. Ultimately, the portraits formed the backbone of the series. The images from the encounters brought a lot of joy to the subjects themselves. Every encounter was a story in itself. We hope to tell these stories in a photo book…

“Kohtaamisia” (Encounters) at Kauppakeskus REDI 17.10.2021-1.1.2022

 

The first objective in raising awareness to the project was met with the exhibition at Kauppakeskus REDI. Hundreds of visitors saw the exhibition which had about 40 photographs. The exhibition was funded by TAIKE (Arts Promotion Centre Finland).

Photo Book with 80 pictures, 120 pages, backstories, etc. is expected to be published soon…

“Farewell” available in Fine Art Prints and Limited Edition works