Shared / Connected – A Shared Vision of the Future by Finnish and Dutch Students (Tampere day)

Opening September 12 at 17–19

Student Collaboration between Finland and the Netherlands

The upcoming exhibition at Photographic Centre Nykyaika in autumn 2025 presents works by photography and photojournalism students from Finland and the Netherlands. The exhibition is part of an international collaboration initiated by the Backlight Photo Festival, in which students from Tampere’s universities work alongside students from the Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam. The aim of this collaboration is to provide young artists with opportunities for international exchange, the creation of new networks, and the development of their artistic vision in an international context.

In spring 2025, the students showcased their projects at the Rotterdam Photo Festival, where some of the series now on view were presented for the first time. The exhibition in Tampere brings together works shown at the festival as well as new student projects, offering audiences the chance to see how young photographers from different countries approach similar themes from their own perspectives.

Rotterdam Photo Theme: Shared / Connected

The theme of Rotterdam Photo 2025 was Shared / Connected. It raises the question of what we are willing to share and what kinds of connections we seek and create in our time. After half a century of neoliberalism, a new ideology is emerging: commonism, which emphasizes community, shared resources, and solidarity instead of privatization and competition.

The works selected for the festival explored themes such as identity, family ties, friendship, and ecological issues. From the perspectives of young photographers, a polyphonic whole emerged, combining personal stories with broader societal concerns.

The exhibition in Tampere continues this exploration of themes and brings them into a new context. It shows how community, intimacy, and the need for belonging can be interpreted in many ways – through intimate family moments, bonds of friendship, communal subcultures, or experiences of solitude.

Works by Dutch Students

Vera Derkx – The table between us A grandmother’s table becomes a place where generations meet. The work pays tribute to everyday objects and rituals that shape intimacy and togetherness.

Fionnán Murphy – Cons A portrait-based exploration of subcultures united by strong ideological identities and rituals. The work reflects on how spirituality is sought in a society where traditional forms of religion have receded.

Ieva Gutmanaitė – Icy / I See Memories Still frames encapsulated in blocks of ice open a reflection on the relationship between nostalgia, memory, and impermanence. As the ice melts, the images are revealed and at the same time disappear – like memories that fade over time.

Pip Maarschalk – Endless imagination Photographs created in the moment, spontaneously and playfully. The work celebrates human uniqueness and the possibilities of photography as a tool of boundless imagination.

Milou Rosenkamp – Maybe solitude is no longer a punishment In this project, the bench beneath the window of a student apartment becomes a metaphor for the city and a point of reference amid constant movement. The work consists of overlapping photographs transferred onto handmade paper created from materials collected around the bench.

Works by Finnish Students

Milla Radaelli: Love Beyond Time Portraits of couples aged 60–80 challenge stereotypes about ageing and show that love, intimacy, and the redefinition of identity are possible in every stage of life.

Karoliina Redsven: Who Gets to Be Seen on Stage? A documentary project exploring gendered structures in the music industry and the importance of role models. Group portraits break with the conventions of band photography and reveal the friendship, solidarity, and community of musicians.

Christian Pirskanen: Breaking Point Portraits of people recovering from drug addiction are based on interviews in which they recount turning points and the rebuilding of their lives. The work visualizes the emotions of addiction and the journey toward recovery.

Anni Agren: When you are here A photographic series depicting friends for whom platonic closeness is a natural and meaningful part of their relationship. The work challenges the boundaries of toxic masculinity and shows that the need for closeness touches everyone.