Wait, from Wilma Hurskainen's No Name series.

The latest offerings from up-and-coming Finnish media art and photography students.

MARCH BRINGS many interesting cultural events, but one must see of the month is the new Helsinki School exhibition, Photography and Video NOW, featuring cutting-edge photographs, videos and installations by 17 young-generation artists.

The range of works takes the viewer on a fascinating journey into the artists’ thoughts, encouraging them to step out of the role of mere observer and take on an active role. The works explore a variety of themes, including psychological portraits, landscapes interpreting the relationship between space and time, autobiographical stories and geometric compositions that investigate the laws of mathematics. In addition, the works also take a stand on global issues, such as ecological questions and the changes in the urban environment.

Testing skills

The Helsinki School refers to a selected group of students and graduates of photography from the Aalto University School of Art and Design (formerly known as the University of Art and Design Helsinki). Created by director of professional studies Timothy Persons to give students an opportunity to take part in exhibitions and test their skills as working artists, the Helsinki School has developed into one of the most internationally recognised art movements in the country.

Although the artists share the unifying practice of using the camera as a tool for their artistic expression, each artist obtains their own unique way of expressing themselves through their work. The Helsinki School movement is not defined by a specific discipline, but represents an approach that has evolved out of the process of teaching students to invent themselves artistically.

The school is continuously taking part in exhibitions across the globe and even has its own permanent exhibition space in Berlin. It has also published a number of photography books featuring works by its artists. In fact, the Photography and Video NOW exhibition focuses on artists presented in the third volume of the Helsinki School books titled The Helsinki School, Young Photography by TaiK.

PETRA NYMAN - HT
Wilma Hurskainen - Helsinki School