Sasu Riikonen is a Finnish based fine art photographer and film maker. His photographs could be described as cinematic and narrative. They are strongly atmospheric. The photographs themselves do not contain a storyline. Instead, they invite the viewer to interact with them, and to create a narrative between the subjects themselves. AHC: Can you tell us a bit about your process, themes & inspirations? Sasu: My inspiration comes from films, nature and melancholy. I’m visually handicapped which has also impacted my work, especially my photography process. In my art I study Finnish melancholy. What makes it so interesting is that it contains both positive and negative elements. It encompasses nuances of different emotions, such as love, sadness, pain and pleasure. Melancholy entails contrast and conflict. AHC: What first drew you to art? Was there a specific moment in your life or turning point where it became clear to you that you were being called to create? Sasu: I have been doing creative work as a film editor for ten years now. Photography came into my life much later: I started taking photographs after a visit to an eye specialist. The doctor had recommended I get a walking stick, but I walked straight into a camera shop and got myself my first digital camera instead. At first I shot landscapes, portraits, stars and macros of plants, pretty much anything. About three years ago I found fine art photography. Choosing a visual field is a pretty odd decision for a visually handicapped person. When I was starting photography my friend pretty much summarized it perfectly. He suggested I should use the tagline: “Say cheese so I know where you are”. AHC: Who are some of your artistic influences? Sasu: Finnish film director Aki Kaurismäki’s films have been a big influence on my art. I also love the films of Lars Von Trier, David Lynch and Wes Anderson. Gregory Crewdson, Brooke Shaden, Christopher McKenney are photography artists I’m really into right now. Outside of the art world my main inspiration comes from my partner Virva Heinimaa. She has been featured in nearly every art work I have done lately. It’s nice to have a life companion, muse and model in the same package. AHC: Your photographs are richly cinematic, many of them look almost like still frames from a film, how do you technically create this effect (lighting etc.) and what is it about this cinematic sheen that inspires your body of work? I'd almost call them Bergman-esque. Sasu: Beauty in Melancholy is a cinematic project which draws its inspiration from Finnish melancholy and films. My film editing background has had a major impact on my photography, but also vice versa. I use a lot of photography techniques in my films. The project’s cinematic style is achieved by using cinematic lighting and compositions. I pretty much always use a combination of soft and low-key light. There is something very mystical about it. The same lighting technique has been used by painters for centuries. Maybe that’s why it looks so precious. I think the story element is the main reason my work seems so cinematic. I try to create a dramatic situation. To achieve that I imagine a story around a scene. I seek the moment when the mood and drama are at their highest points. I call it a lean forward moment. In a film, you would cut to close up at that moment. As a photographer, I capture the frame at that very moment. As far as Bergman-esque goes, I’m from Finland, and in Finland, Aki Kaurismäki is where it’s at. So I think it’s more Kaurismäki-esque.
AHC: What is the first work of art you encountered that took your breath away?
Sasu: I can’t name the first, but the last time was when I found Gregory Crewdson. That took my breath away like nothing ever before it. I ordered every one of his books in one sitting. AHC: Are there times when you become blocked creatively? What do you do to rekindle inspiration? Sasu: Becoming blocked was a problem for me sometime ago. Then I started collecting a library of ideas. It has made my artistic life much easier. I save my ideas to the cloud so I can access them anywhere. Some of those ideas turn to fine art and some of the ideas I use in films. Actually, the library of ideas has brought up a new problem. I have so many ideas that it’s hard to decide what do to next, so I end up just drifting from one project to another. At the moment I have many fine art projects going on at the same time. This is really something I have to pay attention to in the future. AHC: Do you have any upcoming exhibits or new projects you'd like to tell people about? Sasu: Lately I have been busy with film editing and teaching. I’m also trying really hard to finish at least one photography project; I’d love to finally finish one, and hold my first photography exhibition.
Galacticka video dedicated to Eadweard Muybridge’s studies of human motion.
All images © Sasu Riikonen (Provided courtesy of the artist) For more visit www.sasuriikonen.com/ Follow Sasu on Instagram 2/22/2017 03:42:15 am
Simply the most inspiring photographs I have seen for ages. Should I come to Finland would love to meet you. My details are on Wikapedia. Keep working, you are an eye that needs to be seen by everyone. Norrie Comments are closed.
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December 2024
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