1. What themes do you pursue in your work, and why?
Portrait is the focus of my photographic practice. I´m interested in posing and its inconveniences. The act of posing is the core of portraiture. Themes of growth, bodily awareness and the impossibility of seeing oneself are central in my practice. Mortality is present and strongly sensed in photographs. But creating a portrait is also communication and communion with others. Sharing the intimate moment of photography with another person is the thing that fascinates me. Portrait means stealing, ownership, control and power. But for me it is even more a question of confidence and acceptance.
2. Tell us about your current project?
My latest works are about how we meet our own image and pose for an image. My models are often children in controversial age. Their behaviour in front of camera change when they learn to look at their own image and name their strengths and mistakes. Around the age of ten a child starts to explore herself or himself in a different way. One starts to scrutinize one´s image and posing for a camera becomes more uncomfortable. New modes of posing arise and the closer the teenage years are, the more challenging it becomes to take a portrait.
3. Do you have any advice for current or future students at the Photography /ARTS?
Use your study years for experimenting, do take risks and don´t be afraid of failures – you can learn a lot of them. Don´t stress too much. This is the time for finding the themes and techniques most suitable for you. Maximize the amount of courses and throw yourself to the unknown. MA thesis becomes easily a burden and slows down your studies. But it is only a part of development and processwhich continues after your studies. Aalto provides really good environment for MA studies, but the final responsibility lies on the student herself. I´m encouraging you to go abroad for student exchange, to broaden your views. Also do see lots of exhibitions and participate in major events like Arles festival in France and Paris Photo. It is good to know the photography scene both in Finland and abroad.
4. What was your most interesting experience of studying/teaching at the Photography /ARTS?
I was lucky to participate the Helsinki School already during my studies. Exhibition tours have been great occasions for learning. We did visit St Petersburg, Russia, and participated Daegu Photo Biennial in South Korea. But also the everyday experiences have been important. Our class had good spirits and we spent lots of time together, and friendships continue even after studies. I spent lots of time in Printlab, and Marjaana Kella´s course for creative writing was one of my favourites.
5) What do you think is the most important thing when studying/teaching at the Photography/ARTS?
The most important thing is to live for the moment and throw yourself to new things! Study years are for experimenting in a much wider scale than in your professional life. You get much more support and criticism from your peers than you will ever have after your studies. Being a practicing artist can be very lonely. That´s why it makes sense to discuss your work and life a lot during your studies. Fellow students, teachers and also students of other fields are excellent reflectors. Keep your mind open and let yourself fail as well. Everyone has his or her own way to conduct studies: one is concentrating in making and doing, another is inclined into theoretical thinking. It is useful to set clear goals for yourself – but don´t forget to have fun as well!