Note · 6 July 2026
[ku] 22/26 Art
Hämeenlinna City Art Residency, 2026 to 2028.
Artist in Residence, Hämeenlinna City Art Residency · 2026 to 2028
Kaputa ry brings me to Hämeenlinna, Celle's Finnish twin town, for three years. One month on site each year, to see what this city shows me.
A New Chapter
Sometimes a new chapter begins with a packed suitcase and a camera. Kaputa ry has chosen me as artist in residence of the Hämeenlinna city art residency, for the years 2026 to 2028. Hämeenlinna is the Finnish twin town of Celle, my hometown. Two cities that have long been connected, and now a task that fills this connection with images. The first month begins now, in July 2026.
Not a Classic Studio Residency
This residency is not designed around a single stay, but for the long term. Each year I work on site for one month, building connections between artists, associations and the two cities, and continuing to develop the exchange between Hämeenlinna and Celle. As chairman of BBK Celle, this is exactly the bridge I care about: a local art scene opening up internationally, and a city in Finland looking back.
What Travels to Finland with Me
In my luggage are my series of works. Hidden Places, urban spaces between recognition and irritation. Heimat, landscape in flux, born from the movement of the camera during the exposure. Both are works about places, and about what places do to us. This is exactly the question I take with me to Hämeenlinna: what does a city I do not yet know show me, and what do I recognize in it.
Thank You
Thank you to Minttu Saarinen and Kaputa ry for their trust. Kulttuurimedia has published a lovely article about the residency, in Finnish: Kulttuurimedia on the city art residency.
