Sisu
2009 marked the 70th anniversary of the Finnish Winter War.
A collaboration with the Swedish fashion photographer Jenny Lexander.
«Sisu» is a Finnish term translated into English as strength of will, determination, perseverance, and acting rationally in the face of adversity. That is a truly way of being in Finland. Sisu is also the name of the exhibition showing in Stockholm, Paris, Copenhagen and Helsinki during 2009 and 2010. Their struggle during the war has been of great historical significance for both Sweden and Finland. The photographer’s grandfather is among the veterans portrayed. Lexander, who is now based in Paris, says that, growing up, she was always fascinated by the silence that surrounded this topic in her family.
The idea in this project is to visualize the inner strength and power within every one of us. Just two generations ago Finland was attacked by the Soviet Union, a super power, in the Winter War. The price was high, but they managed to keep the Russians at bay and maintain independence. Many of the veterans were young boys, most were only 18 years old.
The Sisu exhibition aims to spread knowledge about this important historical chapter to a younger generation as well as to increase understanding between the Nordic countries. The Swedish contribution in the Winter War was important. 9694 Swedish volunteers fought for Finland during the Winter War and the Continuation War. There are at least 1440 Finnish war veterans living in Sweden today. In Finland there are 67 500 veterans, 10 000 of them were made invalids by injuries sustained in the war.
The exhibition consists of material that is produced after a journey to Finnish Lapland where meetings with the veterans from the winter – and from the continuation war were held. On another journey Swedish volunteer veterans were also present. These meetings resulted in portraits and interviews with the veterans. The youngest of the veterans was 84 years old, the oldest 94. The exhibition presents these portraits, quotations from the veterans and also winter landscape descriptions where important events took place. Under the title “The exhibition” you can see a selection of photos and also a selection of veteran quotations.
“This project is the first in a series of ICE projects that aim to encourage understanding between European nations. The project started in the summer of 2008. The exhibition has seen the day after a collaboration between Jenny Lexander, the art Director Susanna Knyphausen and Innovation Culture Europe (ICE). The subject is close to my heart, as my mother arrived in Sweden as a child evacuee during the Winter War. I hope that the exhibition can return a debt of gratitude to the veterans and also that it can help younger generations to understand and value inner strength.”
Johanna Suo, producer and founder Innovation Culture Europe.