Emmi Kukkula
For this exhibition I chose to showcase some of my latest work. For my first ever fashion shoots I worked around the two themes that I personally find the most important when it comes to fashion – self-expression and sustainability. During this past year I began working on a self portrait project depicting my fears. Whereas my photography is usually lighthearted and self-explanatory I wanted to try something different, more mysterious and almost eerie. For this ongoing project I am creating scenes which leave the viewer wondering what is about to happen. While I wanted to keep this project visually pleasing to others, I am mostly doing it for myself as a way of self-exploration and free therapy.
Growing up in a small town in Finland there wasn’t much to do and as an introverted child I spent most of my time in the forest or playing with animals.
My father always had a video camera at hand while mum loved taking pictures of everything on her Yashica point and shoot. Ever since I got my first own camera for my 7th birthday it was only natural for me to photograph absolutely everything around me and that is the way it has remained. 21 years on, I am constantly aiming for the same unrefined, pure approach to photography. I still shoot film, and every now and then scour eBay for the same Yashica my mum had.
I am inspired by Gregory Crewdson, la nouvelle vague, my own nostalgia and Xavier Dolan. But most importantly by those of us who use their photography as a tool in the fight for a more equal society.
