Photographer Meeri Koutaniemi delved into the materials of Gertrude Bell, an explorer who lived at the turn of the 20th century, and as a result, a photo exhibition combining the works of the two women was born.
The name of Bell, who lived a hundred years ago, was already familiar to Koutaniemi, but delving into his archives brought a lot of new information. Both photographers have traveled around the world on their research trips, and Koutaniemi combined material from ten different countries where they have both traveled in the exhibition.
In addition to the photographs, Bell’s archives contain numerous letters and diaries in which observations and memories from his travels have been recorded. You can also find a lot of similar materials from Koutaniemi’s own travels.
– I have mixed our quotes from different parts of the world as part of the exhibition. They create not only a social context but also a personal dimension to the exhibition.
One hundred years between pictures
Koutaniemi and Bell have both dealt with social issues in their works, but even though the subject areas and the countries appearing in the pictures are the same, Koutaniemi has not tried to look for similarities in the works. According to him, the exhibition is more of a fruitful opportunity to see what has happened over the course of a hundred years.
– I am specifically interested in what the relationship between freedom and power is like in these times. The social atmosphere has been quite different in these times.
The pictures and texts in the exhibition are from two different times, but according to Koutaniemi, the exhibition also tells about what has happened between these points in time.
Among the themes that have changed over the course of a hundred years, Koutaniemi highlights the position of women. Women are rarely seen in Bell’s pictures, while Koutaniemi’s pictures aim to highlight the ongoing struggle for women’s rights.
– During his lifetime, Bell was exceptional in his own gender. In that era, women did not travel or do the kind of work she did. The field of photojournalism is still male-dominated, but a change has taken place.
\”The exhibition is not intended to provide answers\”
The exhibition Hidden Freedom is on display at the Salo Art Museum from today until autumn.
Koutaniemi urges visitors to the exhibition and art lovers to come with an open mind. According to him, the exhibition does not have a single purpose or direct answers, but leaves the viewer to interpret what he himself wants to read about humanity and these two periods of the world.
– I hope that the exhibition raises questions and discussion about who we have been, who we are now and what we are becoming.