In February the Jouko Lehtola Foundation shows some previously un-exhibited works by the late photographer Jouko Lehtola. In connection to the exhibition the foundation will also present its first award to a young documentary photographer. Works by the winner of the Young Hero award will be exhibited in Hippolyte Studio.
Lehtola photographed the series titled Some Girls in 2008, two years prior to his death. He photographed transgender sex workers around the Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona and in the red light district of Patpong in Bangkok. The series was also Lehtola’s return to portraiture after a long period of conceptual works. He had started his career by photographing people, and telling their stories through images continued to intrigue him. The exhibition of over 20 previously un-exhibited works, seen now at Hippolyte is curated by Annamari Vänskä. Vänskä currently works at the Aalto University at the Department of Design as Professor of Fashion Research.
In connection to the exhibition Jouko Lehtola Foundation presents its first Young Hero award. Young Hero – Jouko Lehtola Foundation Award for a Young Documentary Photographer is awarded to emerging, talented photographers who are passionate about their work. The exhibition at Hippolyte Studio is a part of the prize. The board of the Foundation have invited art historian Asko Mäkelä and photographer Maija Tammi to choose the awarded photographer.
The award was presented to Joel Karppanen during the opening night on Thursday 2 February by the chairman of the foundation, photographic artist Jorma Puranen.
During the exhibitions two discussions around their themes, gender identity and the future of documentary photography will be held. The discussions will be in Finnish.
Wed 8 Feb, 5.30 p.m.: The Diversity of Gender Identity and the Evolution of Normal (discussion in Finnish!)
Sat 25 Feb, 3 p.m: The Future of Documentary Photography (discussion in Finnish!)
On Saturday 25 Feb 2017 the gallery hosts a silent auction of Jouko Lehtola’s prints.
The public can view and bid on the works in the gallery during the day. The highest bid of the day wins!
Jouko Lehtola (1963–2010) became known in the 1990’s for his work especially in the field of documentary photography. By the millennium he had become a household name in the field of Finnish photography. Before his death Jouko Lehtola had expressed his wishes regarding a foundation in his name and the Jouko Lehtola Foundation was established in 2011. The mission of the foundation is to support young documentary photographers financially and otherwise, and to maintain, support and promote the recognition and dissemination of the founder’s artistic work. www.joukolehtola.com
3–26 February 2017
JOUKO LEHTOLA, Some Girls &
YOUNG HERO – Jouko Lehtola Foundation Award for Young Documentary Photography
Photographic Gallery Hippolyte & Hippolyte Studio
Yrjönkatu 8–10 courtyard, 00120 Helsinki, +358 9 612 33 44, www.hippolyte.fi
Opening hours: Tue–Fri 12–5 pm, Sat–Sun 12–4 pm
(image: Jouko Lehtola, from series Some Girls, 2008)