"Relations" Video & Photo Exhibition 2010-2011
During the summer of 2010 Timo Saarelma interviewed, photographed and video filmed Finnish people and Americans of Finnish descent who live as a small minority in Los Angeles, and whose population consists of over 140 nationalities speaking at least 224 different languages.
The context of the Relations video and photograpic work is connected to the immigration of Finnish people to Los Angeles as well as their own perspective as Finnish immigrants or Finnish American migrants from elsewhere in the USA. How is it to be part of a Finnish or American-Finnish minority among other minorities?
Los Angelesis a city with countless stories of success, fame and fortune. What kind of dreams have the Finnish immigrants had when moving to the “City of Angels”? What is the relationship between their dreams and everyday life? Does a "Finnish" dream have differences from an "American" dream? Similarities?
Relations work is in two parts, consisting of photographic works and a video that are closely interrelated. The photographs are portraits of the interviewed persons, while the video is a documentary and is based on the interviews.
Timo Saarelma
Timo Saarelma (b.1977 Turku, Finland) studied photography and videography in Oslo National Academy of Arts in Norway, and completed his studies receiving his Master in Fine Arts degree in 2009. Previously, he completed degrees at Pekka Halonen's Academy in Tuusula, Finland and at Tampere Polytechnic School of Art and Media.
Timo is currently mainly focused on photography and videography in his artistic work. He is especially interested in displaying his art works in public city spaces, urban nature or other places that can be considered as non-sites. The contexts and contents of his works often refer to the prevailing status of minorities, otherness and geopolitical landscapes.
