In recent years, I have focused on female portraits, specifically studying women in their daily routines. I appreciated the skills involved in activities such as sewing, baking, cutting hair, and caring for children. Whether it was engaging in conversation with colleagues, proudly carrying themselves, or simply relaxing and taking an afternoon nap, these moments were significant. These images were exhibited at the Global Mix group exhibition held at the Creative Arts Centre Mylly in Kuopio from August 29 to September 26, 2014. The photographs were taken in two locations in Namibia: Katutura, Windhoek, and Keetmanshoop, which is in the traditional region of the Nama people in Southern Namibia. My encounters with local women as they went about their daily lives were remarkable. In Keetmanshoop, a group of local women invited me to visit an elderly woman, affectionately referred to as “meme,” in her home. They wanted me to portray her to help lift her spirits after the passing of her husband, as she was still in mourning and processing her grief. I remembered the quiet moment we shared, her subtle smile, and the peaceful atmosphere. As women, we were beautiful in our shapes and colours, whether we embodied simplicity or complexity. This process of portraying others also allowed me to explore and express my own identity. In 2016, I created a series of self-portraits for the “Women Living on the Edges of the World” artistic research project.

Global Mix – Valmed ry exhibition at Creative Arts Centre Mylly in Kuopio 29.8-26.9.2014