Almost a year ago I discovered this photo series at Kiasma – The Museum of Modern Art in Helsinki, Finland.
Photographers, Karoline Hjorth and Riitta Ikonen came up with something truly peculiar and special, in their photo series Eyes As Big As Plates. Their subjects are old, super serious and Finnish, all while wearing ridiculous “organic” head pieces and attire…need I say more?
Images via VisualNews and Riitta Ikonen.
completely wonderful.xoxo
The head gear and attire didn’t seem remotely ridiculous – and think “super serious” doesn’t seem to apply at all! Lovely eyes…deep with hiddent smiles…like others, i love this. Thank you !
I agree 110% the emotions they project are genuine.
such beautiful faces
How beautiful…nature and aging merging together…
I just LOVE the Finnish lady with the windswept twigs on her head. It’s just breathtaking.
Me too, it’s my favourite. SO Isabella Blow.
I totally agree…it says to me everything is possible…
Marvelous!
I absolutely LOVE these!
I love these photos!
I want all those people to live nearby. they are beautiful.
Amazing photos! True ART
I love old people. I love to watch them. I love to draw them. And aspecially I love to listen to them. They allways have so many stories! Sometimes happy, sometimes sad, but allways true. It’s because they know about life more than anyone.
And we’re just love to share our stories – OUR WISDOM!!!
Breathtaking, stunning, the blending of nature with humanity makes you gasp
Fantastic!
mitä vittua? En todellakaan nähnyt kaiken nyt … mutta hyvällä tavalla. 😉
These are wonderful images in the Finnish tradition of not explaining oneself. It is what it is, in art as well as well as life.
Of course one then gets all the flipping amateur psychologists pontificating on the various translations, subtle nuances, traditions, interpretations, permutations, etc ad nauseam.
Instead of giving us lectures on ancient religions look the pictures over a few times, they seem to tell you different things each time, reflecting back to us part of ourselves….
Kristina, käytä suomea ainakin siksi kun olet oppinut puhumaan kunnolla. Tuollainen julkinen lapsellisuus nolottaa vahaa akkaa.
Thanks for the links, i’ll go see what else good i can find!
I like what you wrote.
I agree with you completely! Well said.
You apparently understand the overanalysis of nature and beauty–a real sickness of our age!
“We could have seen long ago from primitive societies what the loss of numinosity means: they lose their “raison d’etre”, the order of their social organizations, and then they dissolve and decay. We are now in the same condition.” ~ Carl Jung
They were in cermony being in nature becoming nature
OLEN AIVAN SAMAA MIELTÄ !
Kristina…were you brought up in a barn…
Fantastico!
truly remarkable. Love symbiosis between people and nature, between nature and art. So close – of you only can see it, use it. It is around us , within us.
beautiful, wonderous , and imaginative
Stunning Photography that shows that a miraculous world can be very real!
Excellent! Most Finns are very close to nature!
plus Great !
Great fun, original & beautiful.
Amazing! I love it!
Whotever it is, I am gonna do it the same way
(out of other people, for sure)!
these photos set me back on me heals
Totally, totally awesome art! Perfect subjects as well.
my favorite is the man in the glasses who looks like a wise old owl
Amazingly breathtaking
Nature and aging breathtakingly beautiful
Aging and nature amazing and breathtaking!
I think its great seeing how the oldies are using nature on their bodies at first when i seen. It i thought WTF.now i look at it and think how creative with using the nature
Love it ,creative ,funny and no inhibitions loverly free spirits doing what they want .
This gallery of photographs is captivating and strangely calming to view.
Silly,but cheered me up on a grey morning,is this a tradition or just staged?
Staged.
obviously!
Actually there is a long tradtiion of old Finns sitting out in nature putting things on their heads. Usually after a long, long time in the savusauna and rehydrating with vodka..
saapaita, mukeja, puskia… 🙂
Mwa ha. Please, have mercy on us non-fins 🙂
Beautiful!
Hei Im lost for words, Truly differentiation style ,art.
Magnificent. I love when people wrap themselves in and with nature and natural objects. We simply long to do it!!
I hope this doesn’t carry over in my house
Brilliant and loving and free
the power and diversity of imagination survives! Stunning!
Magnifique
Patronizing.
I am sad that you see through such eyes. I send you warm and loving thoughts.
Also Patronizing
Oy.
I agree, very patronizing
laugh a minute you guys…
The photos are wonderful, but the article leaves me wanting to know the why of doing this?
Linda, when one becomes of a certain age the question is no longer “Why,” but “Why Not?”
There is not always a “why” – Art and Beauty exist for the sole purpose of existing, and to elevate our souls – and this does that so beautifully that it takes my breath away. Thank You
this series of photos is a great artistic statement, a great wholeness statement, a great spiritual connectedness statement. i am 65, and i TOTALLY relate to the message. 🙂
how soumi you!
wow. so little is enough. Real art that is not artifcial. Thank you!
This is fantastic! So typically Finnish and stoic … love this
These beautiful old people are serenely accepting the natural process of becoming one with the earth. Amazing and moving photos with a world of meaning behind them and a wealth of experience in every face.
Man’s first gods were the forces of nature, but they were feared. This changed when the Egyptians created human-form gods that were benevolent. They had a hundred different gods. Later, using Abraham as a focal point the Hebrews, the Christians and the Muslims evolved into a mono-theistic belief system, which is were we are today. Shiites hate Sunnis, Protestants hate Catholics, all hate the Jews, etc. Religion is the cause of death and destruction, including ignoring climate change.
We should come full circle and once again, not worship, but appreciate, revere, and wonder at the forces of nature and the cosmos, not fear-based, but love based as these wonderful people in Finland have shown us.
What marvelous photos. As primitive as they may look, they really are the future if man is to survive.
What a sweeping statement and full of bigotry. Many people of the three faiths quoted actively work together, socialise together and have a common bond:- love of God and the created natural world.
Couldn’t have said it better.
Interesting – even sweeping, I think someone said. I do think death and destruction, including but not limited to, the effects of climate change, cannot entirely be chalked up to human religiosity. Your view of religion as being used for nefarious purposes and as encouraging violence – well, history backs you up. Whether the God/god referenced actively encourages such deeds is impossible to know, since one can’t just find out from a good hard-hitting interview. Good people can find inspiration and comfort in the version of godhood they’ve embraced; they should not close their eyes to the travesties done in the name of the same God/gods they worship. Of course, if you don’t close your eyes, you may wind up less worshipful.
The pictures are very cool. And why should humans survive? What is loveliest in the shots are the flora rather than the fauna, though the Tolkien-like strangeness of the blend of the two is truly charming. Life forms come and go, adapt or become petroleum. Along the way one can have sweetly outlandish moments like these to give us joy.
Well said!
Espectacular
yes, Espectacular!!!
Love it! Kooky, but cute:)
These are simply SPECTACULAR !!!!
This is soooo cool!! A calendar would be awesome!!
This is soooo cool!! A calendar would be awesome!! Love these beautiful people with au naturel head adornments!
this is beautiful…a way to celebrate the older people and the nature around them!
The Finnish Army’s Reserve Force comprises people of both genders and all ages; these pictures show the Finnish snipers perfecting their impeccable camouflage techniques in preparation for the annual manoeuvres…
Lol!
Vinz, the Finnish Army Reserve Force Eastern Legion (FARFEL), ranging over that flat breadth of land, acts as an especially powerful invasion deterrent. Meanwhile, these photos are absolutely beautiful. Thank you, Finnish people.
I adore these. Beautiful photographs, impossible not to smile at. We should be as in love with & respectful to nature here too. I want to join them 🙂 Wonderful.
Barking 🙂
I wonder if this is grounding ourselves to nature?
I wonder if this is grounding ourselves in love to nature?
Brilliant!
There must be a reason that the older people do this. To keep cool, keep the flies away or protection from whatever. Would be great to know. Did anyone ask them the questions…why?
Would be very interesting to understand this beautiful natural beauty.
Betty, these are art photos…staged for their unique beauty……this is not part of Finnish culture…
I’m so glad you said that. I was beginning to question my understanding of the article. I also, had understood this to be a staged photograph of an image imagined by the photographer and modeled by the brilliantly old, serious looking Finnish oldies for the photo. That is correct, right?
you have achieved a miracle, betty. i am speechless!
interesting and lovely
I think I know most of those folks!
Marvelous!
I love these!!
I now have the perfect answer for my thinning, short hair. I must share this with Aunt Kathy. Very cool!
as I finn I always knew we were a(head) of the time…
Absolutely breath taking. These photos have such a calming effect. So many beautiful things in life to appreciate. Merging people and nature…spectacular!
This is the Finnish version of the people of the Omo River Valley in Sudan. Take a look at the photographs of Hans Sylvester.
WOnderful.
Hey! Some of those people are not THAT old! They’re seniors, but not all of them are ancient. Loved the pictures, though.
Genevieve, I was thinking the same thing, a lot of those folks are NOT old. Beautiful Images!!
Why do they do that. Where does the custom come from??
It’s not a custom. It is art. We don’t go walking around with moss on our heads or whatever.
Why is it termed ” ‘old’ Finnish people……” The ‘old’ description is not necessary in this situation.
Beyond the description in the heading for the article, i very much enjoyed the photographs.
Naturally good people
These are fabulous! What beautiful people with such obvious character.
We need this in the US. To hold our older population higher than ever and follow in their footsteps.
Awesome; but why? Hunting, protection…?
It´s art…the pictures are staged. What do people really think about us Finns!? Haha..
what people really think? i’m going with “they don’t”….
Wow! These are absolutely spectacular!! Must share.
Just beautiful.
Makes me want go back to visit where all of my grandparents are from! Very proud of my heritage! Roy Laitinen
Fabulous…
Beautiful!
As a Swede I can totally relate.
We learn from the elderly so we can teach our own. True art and it’s all around us.
Incredible art display. Really fantastic! Looks like these photos and the Finnish focus on really getting back to nature.
Love the whimsy.
I have heard that Finns reflect the nature that they are raised in. Finns from Ostro-Bothnia tend to yell or speak directly more so than FInns from, say, Karelia, since it is flat in the former region and people can yell from house to house. Where as Karelians tend to speak around topics because they are from a hilly region. Having parents from each, I have noticed it is quite true. Also, there is a saying about all Finns that they are like coconuts, hard and rough on the outside and sweet, warm, and nurturing on the inside. Thanks for posting these images. They are all lovely!
Suomalainen? Kokonainen.
It’s amazing how sufficient seriousness and dignity can take things that ought to be ridiculous and make them into tremendous art. This is beautiful work.
yes indeed, very beautiful, haunting and holy
thank you!
Beautiful Expressive Photographs…. Thank you so much for sharing them – Extraordinary Creativity!!
Fresh & revealing.
Change and renewal, growth and the cycle of life. That’s what I bring to these images. What an interesting series.
Brilliant, love the woman with the rubarb wig! One thing though, four of them haven’t actually got things on their heads!
These photos are peculiar indeed. I find myself asking, how should I feel while looking at this? then I start to realize the paradoxical peculiarity between the stern and solemn faces and the organically ridiculous attire and begin to laugh. The final picture actually made me lose it completely. That man in his confident, sexy pose and flower blouse is truly hilarious. Thanks! very nice work.
Love the twigs!
Wonderful!!
Love these! And not only are most Finns close to nature but totally bonkers LOL And that is great!
Végre valami ami mond valamit…..
I want to try one of those blankets and hats and pulls! in stead of these yuk obligatory scarves!!!
We’re all going back to nature at the end wether we like it or not. This is a fanstastic way of showing it virtually. These people in the pictures, some of them at my age, are so beautiful that it almost hurts to see them. Very creative photography 🙂
cool.
An approach that speaks volumes to the lack of fear of mortality. Love it !
It´s seldom that photography touches me that way, in which I discover a mix of such an incredable creativity and the expression of the value of each person.
It´s beautiful work, art and gives so much sense.
Stunning photographs! Incredible Creativity. Thank you for sharing these gems.
Having grown up in Finland my favorite is the woman with cotton wool balls on her head because I
so loved them as a child.
Ecco, una delle tante cose per cui vorrei visitare la Finlandia…
These are so wonderful.
I am partial to black an white large format view camera photography. These are visually, sensually exquisite, fun and serious at the same time. Mythical like really. Thank you for your creative efforts!!!
Ok these are great photos. But, I’m sorry, seeing something at a museum does not mean that you “discovered’ it. Kind of the opposite.
Beauty and nature in harmony…. love it!
I am half
I am half Finish and half Swedish and can fully relate to these pictures. The Finns and Swedes especially from the far north of both nations relate fully to the forrest and nature..wonderful pics …thank you.
organically beautiful photographs, would love to be a model
These photos are absolutely beautiful and inspiring!
Precioso trabajo Lara
i love to play that way too! Beautifull faces, beautifull stuff, beautifulle evrything, and fun too.
I just LOVE this.
De foto s zijn prachtig,de mens en natuur een…..!!!
thank you! love this so much.
I believe the title of the exhibition relates also to a story of the traveler people who talk about a dog who had the eyes as big as plates or the wheel of the carriage and they were threatening at night or in unknown place. The people of this exhibition seem to tell a story of the marshes or woods where people are one with the nature and this also brings them back to life or to a presence when they are dead or represent disappeared families or exemplary stories.
If one tries to make a fire, and the Scandinavian countries are a lot about making warm or comfortable, one looks for twigs or moss or grass to put in fire. It can be an exhibition about small things in the nature.
I was on a trip in north Norway and we gathered twigs to put in the fire and we looked very much the same with the arms full of twigs.
These twigs look also like a bunch of vine plant too, which may say they get to the head and they put you to the ground, these small things of the nature. And so! Thank you for the funny and wise photography! And thank you to your models too!!!!
Feeling very proud to be a Finn when I saw these pictures. I always knew that we were ‘one’ with the nature, but these pictures manage to make it a tangible concept.
Excellent!
Brilliant!!!
Precioso, parece que con el tiempo se hacen uno con la tierra…
magical!… they aren’t old!.. just look at them playing!! I love it 😀
Why would anyone ask “Why”. If you are Finn then you would understand. I am wondering as to how they got that picture of me with the lily pond leaves on my head.
Espléndidos! Brillantes! Evocadores!.
Gracias!!
I just so love every single one of these pictures ….. Beautiful.
But it’s NOT on their heads. Not only, not all. Love the photos but think you need to change the title.
I will have to move there when I get old.
is the idea to use what you find in nature as artistically as you can, or does it serve a practical purpose? how common is this, and can it be compared to trendy fashionistas in the big cities? they all seem so natural in their facial expressions that they are not posing, so it seems to be a particularly lovely shared mentality….the rhubarb is so cute, and the twigs are amazing…. I love this incredibly authentic and fascinating article….thank you
I love the pics and they encourage me to be creative and have fun. Someone once said “Don’t encourage her”. It’s a wonderful world full of glorious in nature to put on your head and elsewhere.
Utterly wonderful!!! Bring a smile to my heart and day…
wonderful! thanks
Kiitos
Love the Finns. I want to grow old like this!
A Great netural tradition,,,we must try this there semms to be a therupitic effect by doing with naturel products.
Very inspirational, loved all of them!
Incredibly inspirational – loved all of t hem
Wunderbar! Vielen Dank für die Inspiration! 😉
So very interesting! I love seeing older people celebrated and the beauty of all of the nature. I can’t help but feel a bit uncomfortable as I have an aversion to bugs and spiders in particular. The reactions of everyone and the mixed emotions that I am feeling tell the tale of how wonderful this art is.
i love the Finland people.
Fab!!
Beautiful and very creative.
And they say “there are no Finnish comedians.” Ha!
More, please.
You get away with torturing old people? No one is smiling. and they all look uncomfortable. But nice camera.
Nydelig!
Very special and quite beautiful 🙂
A great project. Those people are beautiful and you make them look wonderful.
These were so moving, I laughed and I cried. I am getting old and life is getting more and more beautiful. Congratulations to all involved. MARVELLOUS!
Almost painfully exquisite, their pride and confidence and comfort with nature! But what’s with the man wearing nettles? Too much pain and not much comfort! Perhaps he is collecting them to ferment for fertilizer, as I do. Fortunately he is one of the ones well-clothed under his botanic coat. I am reminded of the old story of the swan brothers and their nettle sweaters.
Hooray hooray for bursting these beautiful old faces into a strange and daring new light. I hope they all enjoyed the photo shoot as much as your lucky fans love the results. Thank you!!
Really nice Fotos, I also want one!!!! Congratulations for the pictures!!!! 🙂
I love every one of these pictures, and wish I could know these delightful people as my friends. I want to go live in Finland where people are so creative!!
Just a thought: Would it not be better if the title of the article were worded slightly differently, to say “FINNISH PEOPLE WITH ODD THINGS ON THEIR HEADS” instead of “ODD FINNISH PEOPLE WITH THINGS ON THEIR HEADS” ?
Beautiful!!!!
Just wonderful!! I love it!
Oops (red faced and embarrassed)! I misread the title. That’s what happens when I stay up too late.I love the comment about a Calendar! Any chance there might be one? Thanks for sharing the marvelous photos. I’m 65, I think I’ll start doing this, too. 🙂
What a creative expression of freedom at any age! Thank you.
Wonderful! Great and insipiring photographs and people!
I fear such activities here would result in a competence hearing for mental health
Please, note these photos are taken by an artist (Riitta Ikonen mainly). The women and men are models, they are not representing themselves or dressed every day in a fancy way like in the photos. They represent the image and visions of the artist. And she has succeeded indeed so well in her intentions. I’m proud to be a Finn, an elderly Finnish woman (66 years).
…thanks for your message with the artists name who had the concept and took the images…thank you! … i have shared the images so it will be good to share the artists name!! big hello to magical Finland!!
Two additions to my former comment:
I mean that the women and men are self-made or artist-made models, they do not represent themselves.
The website of Riitta Ikonen is worth a look: http://www.riittaikonen.com/
Such great art in photography I didnt see for a while. Subjects and idea combined so perfectly into nature. Well done!!
Greetings,
Mario keglevic
Absolutely wonderful! What a fantastic idea! Love their serious facial expressions.
These elders, In Nature , are Creative and Heartfelt. I am Inspired to be one !!
I’m not sure whether this is crazy in a good way or crazy in a mental-should-be-locked-up way….I love it though!
As an OLD and purebred svenska flicka, can’t imagine why I’ve not thought to gather twigs for my noggin! Guess the Swedes have always been one step behind!
Very funny. It makes me look at my garden clippings differently.
Hey, wait, has Lady Gaga seen these…? I’m sure she can find inspiration here for next years’ tour.
I see the faces of my ancestors. The juxtaposition of the people and nature, the seriousness of their expressions and the headdresses they wear, speaks to my understanding of the Finns. Connected to the land, and a shuttle humor. Thank you, for sharing this exhibition online.
Actually, I believe this aging lady of Finnish heritage will skip these. I guess I am not very creative…rather unusual but interesting!
1
Thank you Lara for sharing your wonderful works and to the old Finnish folks too…..so inspiring and up lifting and beautiful and … well…just everything……i love love your work….i have had to share with others…thank you!!…best helen from the UK
Yes, these are my people.
Love this!
I love what LeAnn Kaattari said!
Hurrah! What a beautiful bunch of pictures, really eye-opening and mind-opening and playful and challenging…sail on the Finns!
Amazing! I love it!
Absolutely fabulous! Great compilation of very original people! Each and every image put a smile on my face. Thank you for sharing your great work.
I love Kiasma in Helsinki. It has the most surprising art. Never faint-hearted and always totally original. Aren’t these strange and wonderful photos!
I love it!!!!
Thank you! I want to meet the models, and the visionary artist! Breathtaking!
These photos and the superlatives in response (Marvelous! Wonderful!) sent a crawly feeling up my spine. Terms like “artistically correct” or “age-ally correct” came to mind. Also, the “emperor’s new artistic insight.” I was amused also, but mostly alarmed. Now I feel grief.
Having been so very fortunate to play in a forest as a child, I recall knowing that we children were part of the natural forest ecosystem: moss, hemlock, fir, “mother” tree, soil, bug, bird, child, fern, trillium . . .
On second consideration of these Finnish models – nestling under moss and adorned with grass – I think of clear-cuts and deforestation, the transformation of forest ecosystems into tree agriculture and concrete. Maybe we “older” ones (I’m close to 67) have been one of the last generations to be part of a true, even “sacred,” forest. We love moss and old growth and we grieve for the seventh generation and our grandchildren. This may not have been the intent of the photographer, but thank you, anyway.
Now that’s Art!
I simply adored these pictures. thank you.
lovely
I like the one of the man on the ground with the Moss. But they all are so special!
Sell as calendar? I’d buy two! I would, really! These are beautifully wonderful.
sign me up too!
Without gile, and so completely unselfconscious, us as we are supposed to be – wonderful!
Double plus good !
amazing!
Fantastic! I love them!
Wooow. Amazing. From my birth place on the world. It is lovely
How beautiful they are 🙂 🙂 ^_^
I love the woman covered in straw. She’s like a graceful old owl. Stunning work. x
This art deserves the highest accolade! True art with true beauty! Breathtakingly windswept!
I found them very beautiful in a touching way. At 82 iwas moved for many reasons. These are not funny; they are beautiful. Thank you.
The faces are amazing, especially the one in the first photo. SUPER!
The most beautiful people….. just lovely spirits they are!
Meet the inner god in the other human.
You fins are great! beautifull work Karoline Hjorth and Riitta Ikonen, and Lara.
Toutali aasam, did anyone else see the teddy bear (rock) beside Mr. Sammale on his shoulders? My heart just expanded.
I saw it too 🙂
I thought it was hilarious.
These are my people!
Need you say more? OF COURSE! Who, what, why, when, where, how? But mostly who and why? That’s all assuming of course that they weren’t posed by the photographers as a hoax.
I was very taken with this photography. The first photograph brought tears to my eyes. She is such a beautiful older woman in my eyes at least, and I would love to give her a hug and ask her to sit down for a cup of tea with me. . I am 68 myself, wish if she is older that I could call her gram, or auntie , some family connection. I realize my perspective is different from probably all the others. I have always wanted someone to call those names, never having had family. I shall always remember this very special lady. Thank you from my heart. Is there any way to purchase a copy of the print?
I love the pictures so much I made beautiful nature hats and had my brother photograph them. Fantastic!!
It reminds me of the part of George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones where people have merged with and become part of trees.
Living in my Finn home now for 30 yrs, I can now why I love my bogs, with dragon flies, Blue Herons & frogs. The brackish, somewhat salty water, marshes near the sea that I have become part of.
Human is part of the nature.
Kauniita ! Muy bonitos !
Brilliant, really random but great and good photos too
Very shamanic. I totally relate to all these beautiful pictures. I keep thinking about them and returning to look at them. Is it possible to get a copy of any of these images?
But what happens when they show up at WalMart?
I remember reading about the folklore and mythology of the Finnish people. So, it would not surprise me to see them wearing nature as clothing.
Being 100% Finn, I am so taken with the photography, the first picture of the lady with the twigs reminds me of my grandmother who came from Finland in 1900 as a bride and she and her husband homesteaded a farm. I am also an old lady, 80 years young and love communing with nature. My greatest love is working in the garden. My I do so until the day I die
es muy hermoso..
Oikein hvää ja kaunis!
Love!
Amazing and beautiful
beautiful
Delightful!!! Thank you for these absolutely wonderful shots!!!!!
these marvellous images show us what a serious business humour is.
and the people! idiosyncratically finnish, they seem to be.
Yes not old…mature …maturity implies completion..arrival at a time where one can just be part of one’s environment and celebrate.
There people are not exploited, facial expression shows collaboration in a ‘moment’ captured … Thanks for sharing that…..what a lovely place and what beautiful people.
Old ……no……mature. Maturity suggests completion, arriving at a place where one can celebrate where one is. There’s people shine with that joy. Thanks for sharing.
I’m lichen the guy covered in moss! 😉
fantastic, expressive pics!
Beautiful
Great photos.It would have been great fun meeting the people involved and taking the pictures yourself.
I can not stop seeing your pictures. Once, when I was twenty-something, I had a very strong dream in which a voice was saying things like “you were born from leaves and moss, and today became a real person.” I was thinking that your essay seemed a continuation of my dream. As if the voice was saying that in the old age we returns to the leaves and moss.
Great project! Love it!
fantastic, expressive pics
Good to see Finland hasn’t changed since I was there. For a culture that invented the Kalevela, the Sauna, the Kantele and about a thousand varieties of Ryvita this is all pretty normal and should be encouraged. What’s wrong with whimsical anyway ?
Wish I were Finn, or lived there. HEre is the usa we have lost almost everything beautiful and meaningful. I try to live as one with nature as much as possible but people don’t understand and they pre-judge way too much. Wouldn’t it be nice to have these lovely photos all over the house?
great, moving, human photos, thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you this is so wonderful – those crazy Finns! Young at heart
I am also very old–81–and the child of Finnish immigrant parents. Unlike many such immigrants who would never talk to their children about their ancestry or their experiences in growing up in Finland, my parents seemed almost compulsive in telling us. I am grateful for this. But they never mentioned anything about the custom of putting fragments of nature on one’s head. I’d love it if something could provide cultural background on this. Perhaps it was regional? My parents were both from southwestern Finland–Rauma, Forssa.
That´s because it´s not a thing we Finns do. This is simply ART. Nothing else.
And that’s why I married a Finn!
Absolutely brilliant. I would LOVE to be photographed by this person…especially with my Mama.
Fascinating, as someone else said every time you look you see other aspects and gain another impression of the scene and the person.
Very cool!
אנשים טבע ! יפים באמת!
Gorgeous. I love it. You made my day.
I’m reading a book about O’Keefe, Kahlo, and Carr ( Canadian) and their connection to nature, indiginous people and artistic representation of their cultures. These images remind me of a personification of the environment and the co-existance between the earth and mankind. I fear this sense of separation in the world of technology and an urgend need for us baby-boomers to keep the connection alive,
I’ve often wondered about the family I gave coffee and Finnmarks to when sailing away on a British Tanker from HelsinkI back in the forties when the Russians were still there. Not being able to pronounce T they called me Chom
My impressions of the Finns then had not one unfavourable note. Could have willingly lived there except for the weather. Now in my late eighties this little item reawakened fond memories.
If you had to live in a freezing cold climate with over half the year in the dark I reckon you’d do something a little light hearted too. Tom Edfgar
what a wonderful start to my day! thank you
Increíble
Fantastic, something I see as serious-joy-creativity. Beautiful, fun… You hae to do something to counter the long dark winter there – seems like they and their photographer accomplished just that. Heart warming connection to our earth.
Some of these things are clearly not on their heads.
These are the most brilliant photos i’ve ever seen! Thank you! So funny, strange, beautiful, disturbing…
next spring, rhubarb headwear for this Finn!
Really beautiful, intriguing figures. What a pity I never met anyone like them…being a Finn myself. Must start thinking of a head set for me 🙂
They don’t seem to be enjoying the experience. Sorry. I just don’t understand this ??
I love it!
These remind me how good a shower feels after being covered with nature.
Fascinating and amazing for the artistry demonstrated in these creations and the photos capturing them! I have to say though that the title of this series is a mismatch and very misleading in terms of the impact on the viewer, this viewer at least. It sets a person up to expect something silly, frivolous and even agist. Images are powerful but so are words!
Wonderful!
I am Finn and I love these photos: our soul landscape. Olen suomalainen ja rakastan nãitã kuvia: meidän sielunmaisemia. Nobody knows where we are coming from. We are strangers in the world. … Very strange people.
You have a lot of followers!! Do you remember the leaf dress Ivy And I made for one of the Barby dolls? Pictures great fill of wonder I.ll show threw to Ca family Thanks nonny
Moving! Beautiful. Thank you so much, Lara Sanchez. More? Eti in Toronto, Canada
Sorry, I believe I made an error. It’s not just Lara Sanchez but all the other photographers I want to thank profusely as well. eti in Toronto, Canada
Finns love saunas, Finns love nature, Finns love design (Wirkkala)
Finns are OK.
As a Finn, I feel I am looking into the gene pool! Great photos! Eric
Superior! I love it when we pay attention to ourselves
Wonderfully strange. Thank you!
Finnland: Come for the architecture, stay to make the elderly look like stupid assholes.
Is it weird that I’m aroused?
Empathetic people and nature……..beautiful.
I enjoyed looking at these photographs.
p.s. Pamela Holat doesn’t know how to recognise a smile.
BRILLIANT!!! Thank you sooo much for these beautiful images!
As two 80 year olds, my husband and I are proud to be Finnish ( he’s sorry he’s only half) (the smart,numerous half!)! Finns seem to often have a dry sly sense of humor, at least the ones we know. I see see my. Father dressed in ivy with less hair than when I saw him last. This experience made my day, month and maybe my year!
Fabulous Art! I am amazed at the number of people who didn’t get it. I’m 76 and didn’t see any “old” people in the photos! Kiitos! Sanelma (51% Finn)
I’m definitely going to make me a rhubarb hat next spring!! Love it!!
If this is Art. then art is not for me . you silly silly people..
these are fantastic photos, it will be interesting to see if we could do the same in our country. they would make a great calendar. it would be very good fun too to see what the british fields and woods would give. I love the bog fluff flowers
I know what I’m doing when we cut the muscadine vines!
am desperate to know if this is a tradition or something done particularly to create the photos.
it’s a photoshoot, molly! pretty cool one though. 🙂
As a Finn I see a deep multi expressive message here…. people who have integrity can also make fun of themselves, still with a lot of deep thoughts and message beneath it all.. Telling funny things with a serious face is even a popular way of humor and testing the others intelligence in Finland..
The first photo is most expressive of the life by the sea..people being shaped by the nature and ..finding a deep feeling of belonging to the nature as a natural part of life…that we can find in the older generation, but loosing it with the younger ones… For a Finn these photos open up a wide spectra of cultural dimensions and touch hearths deeply…those who know the history of Finland can also relate to the experiences of the model’s lifetime…looking at these bring up many memories, stories…deep poetry in deed…:) The beauty is in the eyes of the one who’s looking..say the old one in Finland, too.
Subsidised tomfoolery is not sufficient, of itself, to constitute great art. Glad people get a buzz out of it but….
Very interesting project 😉
[…] einen finnischen Jungen bzw. seinen trockenen Humor verknallt. Offensichtlich ist Humor in Finnland generationsübergreifend in Hülle und Fülle […]
Beautiful
I love them all- especially the rhubarb hat!
Sandra…Looked just like me…sitting with tussock on head
I have always been drawn to headwear, our fascination with crowns, head adornments halos, etc, I have in the past made “hats” out of organic material, I kept my Fairy godmother “hat” sculpture mounted in my living room.
Fantastic!
I am late getting to see this, I notice, but I must express my admiration for the Man with Moss, Man with Sea Weed & Lady with Rhubarb. My favorite, however, has to be the Nude Person with Water Lilies. Just great, Finland is on my list of places to visit. Soon.
What wonderful inspiration to find use for the branches I have been saving.
These photos are absolutely AMAZING!! I want to look like this when I get old!!! I love all of them!!
The Museum of Modern Art in Helsinki, in Finland, didn’t find it ridiculous.
Ridiculous is the interpretation of those who don’t grasp the meaning. It’s a conceptual piece.
I have a great number of wine corks that I have been saving for reasons unknown . . .
These are brilliant. I don’t know whether or not to hang up the nikons in honor of your greater power or whether I should go out and face the world through my various lenses totally renewed.
This are feckin’ brilliant. Words that do not come out of my mouth very often.
Old Finnish people with things on their heads is amazing.
Feeling oddly inspired now.
I loved this week: 1. Eiffel tower in Russia (Messy Nessy Chic) 2. Old Finnish people with things on their head (LaraVisual) 3. All 60 Oscar films ranked by one guy (Slate) 4. This dog skateboarding
Where these people paid models and all understood what was being done ? My 90 year old Mother would never do this . She would feel it was patronizing to her.
Nice people and plants, wonderful photography..
[…] Just for fun, here are some old Finnish people with things on their heads. […]
I absolutely love this. I am somewhat obsessed with the elderly as well. The whole “with things on their heads” = brilliant. If you have time please check out my instagram: http://www.instagram.com/depresssingh
Nothing profound. I just want to say how happy these portraits make me. I look at them occasionally and marvel at how beautiful they are – the faces, the creation, the photo. Thank you.
Equal respect and affection seems shown in these pictures to nature, people and art. With humour too… I feel refreshed, uplifted and smiling. Thank you!
[…] Fotos de gente mayor Finlandesa con elementos orgánicos por su cabeza y cuerpo (ENG) […]
Correction, the subjects are from many places, not just Finland. See here: http://www.riittaikonen.com/82u7pnxzt2letzvurwmyyz3f065qt3
These are beautiful photos of lovely people. I don’t know exactly what the acdessories mean to them, but a sense of fun is clearly part of the mix. 🙂
This is so artistic, a beautiful demonstration of the incredible and wise connection between humanity and nature, We are one.
Really, to be one with the landscape! Love it!
[…] This lovely and strange photographic project, “Old Finnish People With Things On Their Heads.” […]
This is beautiful. Earth conscious. It reminds me greatly of the young people of an African or South American tribe (sorry I cannot be more specific) to very seriously do their cosmetics and make up with flora and vegetal things … AND some clay, powdered rock and, well, nearly anything they find alive in their environment. It’s innocence and joy, and appreciation. It’s holy and sacred and a great giving of thanks!
Who says the Finns don’t have a sense of humour, a dry sense of humour, tongue in cheek–but still, there it is and beautiful it is too.
The one with the nettles can’t have been comfortable to set up or pose for!
In all seriousness: these photographs are beautiful.
More, more, more! This is gorgeous. Profound. Our elderly are so part of nature … as we all are … and will return to. Please do more of these!
Go on images one of them has turned around and it is very strange
hi
amazing it is ….
you have great talent 🙂
From the earth we rose and to the earth we will return… beautiful portrayal!
I admit the people in the photos are great. I disagree with everyone saying its people and nature merging. They killed nature to wear for a photo.
Congrats!
Epic.
[…] We love reinvention, don’t we? Feathers, reimagined. Plus, other things you can put on your head. Painting secret languages on silk and the last meals on Death Row. But are we over it? Is […]
[…] I loved this week: 1. Eiffel tower in Russia (Messy Nessy Chic) 2. Old Finnish people with things on their head (Lara Visual) 3. All 60 Oscar films ranked by one guy (Slate) 4. This dog skateboarding 5. What a […]