The series Past-it deals with the impact that humans have had on the natural environment in the post-industrial era. The aim of the series is to visualize the contradictory and complicated relationship between humankind and nature. Through experimental conceptual photography and graphic elements I visualize, the contradictions and complications of our global society.
In my works I strive to create new visual solutions to interpret my ideas, steering away from traditional representation methods. The series Past-it is a manifestation of the current times my distillation of the reality. The photographs taken in different countries deal with both my own carbon footprint, and the manifestation of consumerism on a global scale. The series is ongoing, and consists partly of images from my personal archives. Through the fragmentary method I discovered the wider theme resonating behind the pictures, and combined them to create an expanding body of work. The images reflect the outlines of reality that I have experienced and seen: complex and ominous, yet playful.
Jaakko Kahilaniemi (b.1989, Finland) received his BA in Photography from Turku Arts Academy Finland in 2014 and his MA also in photography from Aalto University of Art, Design and Architecture in Helsinki Finland in 2018.
He won the prestigious ING Unseen Talent Award Jury Prize in 2018 and Majaoja/Backlight Prize in 2017. He was selected as one of the Lens Culture Emerging Talents in 2017. Kahilaniemi is one of the finalist in the Tokyo International Photo Competition in 2019. He is also one of the exhibiting artists in Festival Circulation(s), Format Festival, Fotografia Europea and GETXO Photo Festival in 2019. He was one of the ten finalists in Hyéres Photo Festival and in Fotofestiwal Łódź in 2018.
His work has been featured in many publications, including Eikon Magazine, Greenpeace Magazine, Der Grief and HANT Magazine. He has been exhibited his work at various galleries and institutions throughout Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and the US.
His recent projects 100 Hectares of Understanding and Nature Like Capital are his attempts to understand the world around him and how man affects the surrounding world. He is willing to challenge himself to find new ways of increasing his knowledge and visual perspectives.
Copyright © Jaakko Kahilaniemi, all rights reserved
