Who am I, What am I, Why am I

In my view one of the most important things that I ought to avoid in my life, is being middle class. With middle class I mean, that a person accepts the prevailing values of the society without questioning them, simply blindly following them. This is not necessarily the fault of the individual himself: The surroundings, in which we live and the people we relate to, also have an influence.

If a person chooses a critical viewpoint and looks at the surrounding environment, suspiciously exploring matters that are generally taken for granted, the following questions arise: How should a person then live? And what about our society, how would it look like, if we thought and acted differently from the ways that we are simply used to?

My series of works "WHO AM I, WHAT AM I, WHY AM I" is composed of various individual and family portraits. The set of works varies and it includes videos and photographs. The first set of works has been exposed at the “Cable Gallery” (Kaapelin Galleria), in Helsinki, in November 2008.

An example of a lifelong counter attitude and a dedication to critical thinking is the work "Anarch". Photograph and video are used to draw the portrait of Mr. Veikko Leväaho (1924-2009), for whom the abstention from the exercise of power forms the guiding principle of life and humanity:

"Being an anarch means that you know and understand yourself. That you say no to exercising power, any kind of power, over someone else. Not your neighbour, not even a frog. You have to figure out your own space and treat others with dignity. The exercise of power is harmful in wevery form unless it is deliberately asked for and thus acceptable."

(An extract from the video "The Anarch", 2008)

Details of the works:

"The Anarch"
Video
Discussion with Veikko Leväaho
Format: Full HD
Sound: Stereo
Length: 33 min
Year: 2008

"Portrait of Veikko Leväaho (s. 1924)"
Technique: Kromogeeninen mustesuihkutuloste
Size: 130x158cm
Year: 2008

"Double Player Portrait of Joonas Kokko (s. 1993)"
Technique: Kromogeeninen mustesuihkutuloste
Size: 2 x 93x112,5 cm
Year: 2008

"Double Player Portrait of Emilia Kokko (s. 1995)"
Technique: Kromogeeninen mustesuihkutuloste
Size: 2 x 93x112,5 cm
Year: 2008

"Family portrait Familjen Séraphin"
Lena (s. 1962), Iris (s.1994), Ania (s. 1999) och Boy (s. 2006)
Technique: Kromogeeninen mustesuihkutuloste
Size: 80x60 cm
Year: 2008

"Family portrait Perhe Haarti"
Juha-Matti (s.1955), Daniel (s. 1983), Adina (s. 1993 ) ja Aron (s. 1999)
Technique: Kromogeeninen mustesuihkutuloste
Size: 80x60 cm
Year: 2008