Satumaa

The final part of Suomi series by Joel Karppanen turns its gaze toward Finns who have escaped the cold and harshness of the North for the warmth of the Costa del Sol – a distant shore of happiness on Spain’s Sunshine Coast.

The exhibition Satumaa documents moments suspended between melancholy and resilience: everyday life in a cottage community built beside a motorway, kisses exchanged on the dance floor of Hotel Nuriasol – “Finland’s largest retirement home” – and precarious telephone sales workers at their jobs. Alongside migration, the photographs reflect on the passing of time, loneliness, and the search for community.

The series began when Karppanen travelled to Fuengirola with his grandfather in January 2024. Like many other retirees, his grandfather had spent winters on the Costa del Sol for years, but this time he needed assistance. “Someone had to come along, fill the pill organizers, take care of things,” Karppanen says.

Joel Karppanen (b. 1993) is a Finnish photographic artist, filmmaker, writer, and the new editor-in-chief of Taide magazine. He is particularly known for his long-term documentary photography series, which have been exhibited at venues including Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, KunstHausWien and Malva.

In his artistic practice, Karppanen has focused on ordinary people and documented the social transformations of his country. Satumaa is the fourth instalment in a photographic series examining structural change in Finland, from industrial decline to the platform economy. His photographs radiate authenticity and the aesthetics of everyday life, while also conveying a deeply personal and emotionally resonant dimension.

We will celebrate the exhibition opening on Wednesday 17 June, from 5–7 pm, just before the Midsummer festivities. Welcome!