RAJAMAAT – BORDERLANDS is a photography exhibition tour by photographer Naoko Chiba (Japan) and visual artist Antti Ylönen (Finland). The exhibition will tour the municipalities along the Iijoki River and will finally be shown at Galleria Laterna Magica in Helsinki in the autumn.
Artists Naoko Chiba and Antti Ylönen first met in 2015 during an art project in Fukushima, Japan. Naoko was focusing on her long-term photography project, while Antti was creating sculptures from local wood. Inspired by the surroundings, Antti began his first photography project at that time.
Naoko and Antti both come from sparsely populated rural areas and continue to live and work far from large cities. During their 10-year collaboration and discussions, they realised that modernisation has impacted remote areas around the world in similar ways. Naoko’s home, Tohoku region, is in the northern part of Japan’s Honshu Island. It has many similarities with the sparsely populated areas of northern and eastern Finland.
Following the Fukushima project, Naoko and Antti have continued their own photography projects, held private exhibitions, and organised collaborative exhibitions in Oulu (2018) and Tokyo (2023). Chiba photographs stories she has heard from her family and rural residents, while Ylönen observes the beauty of the decay in the built environment.
This exhibition tour is part of the official program of Oulu, European Capital of Culture 2026, and is organised in collaboration with Kuusamotalo Gallery, Päätalo Institute and Jalava Trading House in Taivalkoski, Pudasjärvi Art Chamber, KulttuuriKauppila Art Centre in Ii, and Gallery Laterna Magica in Helsinki.
In connection with the exhibitions, both artists will also publish a photo book:
Naoko Chiba’s ´My Father’s House´ and Antti Ylönen’s ´Urban Nature Photos´.
Exhibition schedule:
- April 2nd.-29th : Gallery Kuusamotalo in the City of Kuusamo.
- Opening ceremony at the gallery on the 2nd of April at 5 pm, attended by both artists.
- May 4th – 31st : Taivalkoski Päätalo Institute and Gallery Taidekamari in the City of Pudasjärvi.
- Opening ceremony at Taivalkoski Library on the 4th of April at 6 pm with Antti Ylönen present at the event.
- June 11th – July 31st : Art Ii Biennial in Ii village.
- Opening ceremony on the 11th of June with Antti Ylönen present at the event
- June 30th – July 15th : Jalava Trading house in the Village of Taivalkoski
- August 20th-September 12th : Gallery Laterna Magica, Helsinki.
- Opening ceremony at the gallery on August 20th, attended by both artists.
The side events along the tour:
- April 3rd: Jalava Trading House, Taivalkoski village centre. Launch event of two photo books, both artists are attending.
- April 7th : Taivalkoski Adult Education. Cyanotype workshop by Naoko Chiba.
- August 20th: Artist talk by Naoko Chiba and Antti Ylönen at Gallery Laterna Magica, as part of the official program of Helsinki Night of Arts.
- September, the second weekend: Artist talk at Jalava Trading House, part of Taivalkoski Night of Art program.
