Matti Vassinen: Luonnontila

In Hehku, Matti Vassinen's documentary photo series focuses on people who are finding new uses for old buildings in rural areas. In his work, Vassinen asks how social structures guide people's actions and affect the environment in which they live. The focus is on the countryside of North Karelia, where nature is slowly reclaiming areas that have become unnecessary and people are reclaiming buildings that have become unnecessary. Vassinen's works gently and humorously depict the various forms of people's independent agency. The portraits are combined with observations of the environment in the exhibition.

About the artist:

Matti Vassinen is a photojournalist and photographic artist living in a remote area of North Karelia who works with social issues. Vassinen has been working on the Luonnontila series since 2023, and the exhibition at Ahjo is the first presentation of the project.

Kirkkokatu 23, 80100 Joensuu
Free entrance