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 it is organised in collaboration with Kuusamotalo Gallery, Päätalo Institute in Taivalkoski, Pudasjärvi Art Chamber, KulttuuriKauppila Art Centre, Jalava trading house in Taivalkoski, 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´.
The exhibition tour has been supported by the Oulu Cultural Foundation and Eu Japan Fest.
