This project encapsulates the essence of a transformative journey through the medium of personal storytelling. It is an intimate reflection of the individual’s life, marked by significant memories and events that have shaped their identity.
By transcribing these pivotal moments and revisiting them, the person engages in a profound dialogue with their past, applying a method of listening akin to their approach to music. This process allows for the emergence of colors, lights, images, and shapes from the words, echoing the guidance of their mentor to delve deeper into their psyche.
Participation in a master class workshop led by Elina Brotherus, a Finnish art photographer known for her introspective and methodological approach, further enriched this exploration. Under Brotherus’s influence, the individual embraced a similar methodology, crafting new narratives and visual interpretations that continued to evolve. This ongoing endeavor signifies not only a method of working but a perpetual journey towards self-discovery and expression.
Historically burdened by depression, pessimism, and a predominantly negative outlook on life, the person found themselves in a seemingly perpetual state of despair. However, through the act of writing and visually manifesting their emotions—titling these expressions as representations of their inner self—they began to perceive glimmers of positivity and alternative perspectives to their accustomed pessimism. This shift is described as the “miracle of the black mirror,” where, contrary to expecting reflection of darkness, they discover themselves illuminated, transcending the bleakness that once defined them.
This project symbolizes a metamorphosis, a process of becoming visible and authentic to oneself and to the world. It is an affirmation of the individual’s existence beyond the confines of their traumas. Through every created image and narrative, there lies an underlying strength—a potent force of resilience and survival. This narrative underscores a fundamental truth: within the individual burns a light far more luminous and enduring than the shadows of their past traumas.
About Pekka Innanen
Pekka Innanen’s life story is a profound narrative of transformation and self-discovery, deeply rooted in overcoming adversity. Born into a family struggling with alcoholism and the residual trauma of World War II, Innanen was an unwanted child, living in a home filled with fear. However, nature became his refuge, a sanctuary where he found peace among trees, birds, and plants, marking the beginning of his lifelong engagement with the environment.
Innanen’s curiosity about the natural world led him to pursue extensive studies in various scientific fields, including biochemistry, biology, genetics, chemistry, animal behavior, and physics. Alongside his academic pursuits, he developed a keen interest in sports, achieving notable distinctions such as a 2nd Dan black belt in Taekwondo and becoming a certified mental coach.
In 1984, Innanen’s personal life took a significant turn as he got married and later became a father to three children. Parenthood led him to pause his passion for photography, but he reignited this interest in 2000, exploring both analog and digital formats. Initially focused on nature and animals, his photographic interests gradually shifted towards human subjects and abstract expression.
A pivotal moment in Innanen’s journey occurred in 2010 when he suffered a stroke. This life-threatening event prompted him to seek psychotherapy, addressing his past traumas and paving the way for profound personal growth. His recovery and therapeutic process inspired him to explore therapeutic photography, earning a certification in 2020, followed by professional photography credentials in 2023.
Innanen’s artistic evolution continued as he sought to define his unique style and expression. A transformative experience occurred in 1998 when he encountered free jazz performed by the Maria Schneider Big Band at a Finnish jazz festival. The music, initially foreign to him, unlocked a new realm of sensory perception, allowing him to visualize colors in the music. This epiphany not only changed his approach to listening but also profoundly influenced his photographic practice. He began to create images guided by an intuitive connection to his senses, seeking to capture the essence of his subjects through a deeply personal lens.
Mentored by Danny Bittencourt and Kikka Niitynen, Innanen has continued to refine his approach, utilizing photography not just as a means of artistic expression but as a tool for introspection and healing. His journey from a troubled childhood to a celebrated photographer and therapist underscores the transformative power of art, nature, and self-exploration.
