“The human face is fascinating – it speaks to me without a sound.
My pictures are about people and phenomena in the margins.
I thank God for the gift of photography.”
-Johanna Kare
KATSO IHMINEN®
(Behold the Man) Exhibition Concept
IN PAIN
Objective of the IN PAIN exhibition is to make visible the agony of the drug users' close ones and to arouse awareness in society about their need of help.
IN PAIN is part of Johanna Kare’s KATSO IHMINEN® (BEHOLD THE MAN) exhibition concept which turns the spotlight onto marginal people and phenomena in society. Patron of the exhibition is Minister for Nordic Cooperation and Equality Thomas Blomqvist. The exhibition was made possible by Free From Drugs association (Irti Huumeista ry). The exhibition was shown at Helsinki Railway Station from 15th Oct to 6th Nov 2022.
REMORSE
REMORSE exhibition is about female inmates who feel remorse for their crimes and wish to return to regular life. Purpose of the exhibition is to support inmates on they way toward more positive self-image and and hence support their return to society. Simultaneously, the exhibition seeks to raise empathy and humaneness which are needed that an inmate can find a place in the society. Patron of the exhibition is Anna-Maja Henriksson. It took place at Sanomatalo, Helsinki, September 9th to 30th, 2022.
HAPPY LIFE
Happy Life exibition is about three couples who all have a developmental disability. It does not prevent them from being happy and enjoying the life.
The exhibition makes one thing the value of life and life values. What are the things that bring meaningfulness into the life and what kind of acts we can do to bring joy to the life of each other. The exhibition is part of KATSO IHMINEN® (BEHOLD THE MAN) concept and one of the events of 70-year anniversary of Kehitysvammaliitto (The Finnish Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities). The exhibition was at Lapinlahden Lähde, Helsinki, August 2nd to 19th, 2022. Patron of the exhibition is actor, film director and scriptwriter Kari Heiskanen.
HIDDEN HEROES
HIDDEN HEROES highlights ten athletes with disabilities and their stories. The exhibition is produced in co-operation with the Finnish Paralympic Committee and its patron is President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö. HIDDEN HEROES is part of the KATSO IHMINEN® (BEHOLD THE MAN) concept. The exhibition is open at Musiikkitalo (Helsinki Music Hall) from 4 Dec 2021 to 3 Jan 2022.
CYBER HELL
Cyberbullying is a behaviour of mocking, intimidating, spreading private information about someone, or appearing as another person. These are all – or all of them should be – punishable offences. Johanna Kare’s photography exhibition CYBER HELL highlights the manifestations and consequences of cyberbullying. It describes the victims of bullying and shows how bullying has affected their lives.
The exhibition makes a powerful plea to decision-makers and ordinary citizens: Society cannot be at a complete loss when faced with such an extensive and harmful phenomenon. It is imperative that the tools are made available for the prevention and punishment of cyberbullying.
CYBER HELL is part of Johanna Kare’s KATSO IHMINEN® (BEHOLD THE MAN) exhibition concept which turns the spotlight onto marginal people and phenomena in society. The patron of the exhibition is Anna-Kaisa Ikonen, Mayor of the City of Tampere.
COVID-19
The COVID-19 photo exhibition uses images and stories to convey how the coronavirus touches us all, regardless of age, life situation and occupation. The exhibition was commissioned by Ihmisoikeuskeskus (Human Rights Centre) and its patron is Pekka Sauri, Professor of Practice at the University of Helsinki. The exhibition is open from Jun 12th to July 31st, 2021, at the Temppeliaukio Church (Lutherinkatu 3, Helsinki).
INSEPARABLES
The twins from Ostrobothnia
In Ostrobothnia, I got to know these wonderful twin brothers. It was as if they had grown into each other. They were so different but also so likeable and lovable and intelligent and had such a great sense of humour. And according to some unspecified instance they had been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome – something they didn’t want to underline. These dear men will soon be a subject of a photo exhibition. I hope this exhibition will resonate with the viewer, let people get closer to humanity and help appreciate human diversity.
The exhibition opens in June 2021 at Villa Väinölä, Väinöläntie 4, Alajärvi. The patron of the exhibition is the Mayor of Alajärvi, Vesa Koivunen.
I AM
I AM is a photo exhibition aimed at showing that the human individual is whole and complete even if some part of the body has been replaced with a prosthesis. The aim of the exhibition is to remove obstacles to human encounters.
The exhibition is part of the KATSO IHMINEN® (BEHOLD THE MAN) concept, raising questions about important but marginalised phenomena and people. The exhibition is supported by The Finnish Association of People with Physical Disabilities, and its patron is Anu Vehviläinen, Speaker of the Parliament.
16.9.–27.9.2020 (Musiikkitalo, Mannerheimintie 13 A, Helsinki).
DON’T HIT
The DON’T HIT photography exhibition is about women’s experiences of domestic violence. Each year some 20 women die as a result of domestic violence in Finland, and the most dangerous place for women is their own home. The exhibition is part of Johanna Kare’s KATSO IHMINEN® (BEHOLD THE MAN) art concept. The patron of the exhibition is Petteri Orpo, Finance Minister and Leader of the National Coalition Party in Finland.
The exhibition is on display from 18.9. to 5.10.2019 at Gallery Laterna Magica, Rauhankatu 7, 00170 Helsinki.
GHOST OF THE GAME
15.4 – 7.5.2019
In this exhibition Finnish and international ice hockey players tell their story of how their life changed as a result of traumatic brain injury caused by checking. The Ghost of The Game exhibition includes the story of former NHL player and two-time Stanley Cup winner Daniel Carcillo.
The exhibition’s patron is multiple sailing world champion Sari Multala. It is sponsored by Finnish Ice Hockey Players SJRY, the Swedish Players Association SICO, Alpo Suhonen, Mehiläinen Oy, and the Traumatic Brain Injury Association of Finland.
TOUCH ME
thoughts of loneliness
On 14-27 February the Sanomatalo Hallway Gallery will feature photographer Johanna Kare’s exhibition TOUCH ME. The exhibition is jointly organized with HelsinkiMission. The exhibition patron is Annika Saarikko, Minister of Family and Basic Services.
Johanna Kare’s (b. 1965) TOUCH ME exhibition describes the basic human need for contact and connection. In the texts attached to the black & white images, the persons featuring in the photos share their thoughts and perceptions of togetherness, exclusion, loneliness – human emotions that we share in common despite our apparent differences.
TOUCH ME is part of Johanna Kare’s KATSO IHMINEN® (BEHOLD THE MAN) exhibition concept that highlights socially important, often marginal or forgotten phenomena and people.
BARS OF GRACE
Bars of Grace is a touching photography exhibition which highlights the faces and stories of ten prisoners and makes a strong case for human dignity. It aims to support the prisoner’s self-esteem, to elicit compassion in the viewer and in this way to support the prisoner’s rehabilitation into society. The photographs are by Johanna Kare and the stories have been recorded by Haka Kekäläinen. The exhibition patron is Minister of the Interior Kai Mykkänen. Special thanks to Marko Meijer.
3.9–30.11.2018, Hotel Katajanokka, Merikasarminkatu 1, Helsinki
It hurt me too
26.3.2018 Sanomatalo – Helsinki
IT HURT ME TOO is a photography exhibition that explores the consequences of bullying and ways of coping with bullying. The stories and pictures make a powerful case against bullying at school. The exhibition is supported by the Ministry of Education and Culture and its patron is Minister Sampo Terho. The stories are written by Pia Warvas.
LOTTA
9.9.-19.9.2017, Sanomatalo – Helsinki
The LOTTA photography exhibition was part of Finland’s centenary celebrations. The patron of the exhibition is Mrs Jenni Haukio, spouse of the President of Finland.
Street Sparrows
2016 – 2018
Library of Parliament, Helsinki, November 2016
The Salvation Army Temple, Helsinki, October 2016
The Cathedral Crypt, Helsinki, July 2016
Johanna Kare
