Mari Mäntynen

Nominated by

2022

What would being together be without preconceptions about others, and unspoken rules? How would we encounter each other without past, future, opinions, or actions taken? The Stranger -project includes photographs in which the artist Mari Mäntynen appears with strangers. Each picture is taken during the first encounter with the new person. They immediately step in front of the camera without getting to know each other. The underlying idea of the photos suggests: We are each other’s environment. During the image-making process, Mäntynen challenges social norms and with the person being photographed asks each other: How do we position ourselves in the photo? Can we touch each other? What can we do together? The images and poses are created in collaboration with the subject. After the photo is taken, there is time to settle and to talk about the experience, each other and look at the photographs. Mäntynen studies social situations and problems by organizing them, participating in them, photographing them, and finally watching them with the participants. At its deepest, her intention is to create friction and tension that somehow changes reality. Mäntynen’s working is subtle and exploratory, taking into account the power relations of photography. The Stranger series is ongoing, and Mäntynen is constantly producing more images.

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The Artist

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Mari Mäntynen

Nominated in

Copenhagen Photo Festival

Lives and Works in

Finland

Mari Mäntynen (b.1997) is a Finnish visual artist born and raised in Kerava’s prison area. The works are participatory and Mäntynen also appears in them herself. Her artistic work focuses on the question: How could we understand each other better? She addresses everyday tensions and difficult social challenges through collaboration and absurdity. She challenges her audience to confront others and their own prejudices. Mäntynen studies social situations and problems by organizing them, participating in them, photographing them, and finally watching them with the participants. For Mäntynen, the performative method of taking pictures is very important. At its deepest, her intention is to create friction and tension that somehow changes reality. In each of her works, she strives to challenge herself and always move on the edges of social norms and her comfort zone. Mäntynen’s working is subtle and exploratory, taking into account the power relations of photography. Mäntynen completed a Master of Fine Arts degree at the Academy of Fine Arts, University of the Arts Helsinki in 2025. She has a Bachelor of Photography degree from Lab University of Applied Sciences, Lahti Finland and completed exchange studies in photography at FH-Bielefeld in Germany. Mäntynen's first solo exhibitions was on display in Peri Photography Center and Nykyaika Photography Center. Mäntynen’s works are in the collections Museum of Visual Arts Malva, as well as in private collections.