“The eye — it cannot choose but see”
I am a Berlin-based Finnish documentary photographer and visual storyteller, with a focus on long-term documentary photography. In my work I explore themes of injustice, empathy and rebellion.
My area of interest lies in the Balkans and Eastern Europe more broadly. I have an MA from Slavic and Eastern European studies, I have lived in the former Yugoslavia and speak the local languages.
I work on commissions for a variety of publications and magazines internationally.
︎: info(at)ainovaananen.com
︎: aino_vaananen
︎︎︎
Awards
2025 Visiting Artist of the Year - Finnland-Institut Berlin
2022 Artist of the Year - Photo North & Oulunsalo Soi!
Exhibitions
2025 La Chambre Strasbourg
2025 Finnland-Institut - Berlin
2025 Photo North Oulu - Finland
2022-2023 Artist of the Year - Photo North Oulu - Finland
2022 Open Art LGBT+ Culture Festival - Moscow
2018 Photo London Festival - London
2017 Fabrika Centre for Creative Industries - Moscow
2017 Barents Bird Culture Festival - Murmansk
2017 Barents Bird Culture Festival - Murmansk
2025 La Chambre Strasbourg
2025 Finnland-Institut - Berlin
2025 Photo North Oulu - Finland
2022-2023 Artist of the Year - Photo North Oulu - Finland
2022 Open Art LGBT+ Culture Festival - Moscow
2018 Photo London Festival - London
2017 Fabrika Centre for Creative Industries - Moscow
2017 Barents Bird Culture Festival - Murmansk
2017 Barents Bird Culture Festival - Murmansk
Grants
2024 Kone Foundation
2023 Arts Promotion Centre Finland
2023 Patricia Seppälä Foundation
2023 Foundation for the Advancement of Journalistic Culture
2022 Association of Finnish Photographic Organisations
2021 Arts Promotion Centre Finland
2021 Finnish Cultural Fund
2021 Association of Finnish Photographic Organisations
2023 Arts Promotion Centre Finland
2023 Patricia Seppälä Foundation
2023 Foundation for the Advancement of Journalistic Culture
2022 Association of Finnish Photographic Organisations
2021 Arts Promotion Centre Finland
2021 Finnish Cultural Fund
2021 Association of Finnish Photographic Organisations
Masterclasses
2021 Nikon-NOOR Academy’s Masterclass
2018 Professional Development / Photofusion - London
2014 Magnum Professional Workshop - Łódź
Publications & Interviews
2025 Pushing Through Concrete with Finnland-Institut
2024 Other Worlds featured on Lenscratch
2024 We Shall See Photo Zine issue 2 “Other Worlds
2023 Vanishing Point Featured on A Film Cosmos
2022 Interview in Pohjoinen Kulttuurivirta
2022 Interview in Personal Work Journal
2021 We Shall See Review in Photo Monitor
2021 We Shall See Photo Zine issue 1 “Lockdown”
Memberships
Finnish Red Cross Aid Worker / Field Communication Unit
Union of Journalists in Finland
Filmverkstaden Vaasa