Bio

(scroll down for English)
Olen valokuvataiteilija, kouluttaja ja tutkija. Olen opettanut valokuvausta mm. Aalto-yliopiston Taiteiden ja suunnittelun korkeakoulussa, Taideyliopiston Kuvataideakatemiassa ja LAB ammattikorkeakoulun Muotoiluinstituutissa. Erikoisalaani ovat valaisuun, muotokuvaukseen ja asetelmaan liittyvät kysymykset, joita työskentelyssäni ja opetuksessani lähestyn sekä käytännön että teorian näkökulmista. 

Väitöstutkimukseni, Harcourtin pyhä öljy – harjoituksia mustavalkoisen studiomuotokuvan genressä, keskittyy glamour-muotokuvan perinteeseen ja käytäntöihin. Pohdin työssäni samankaltaisuuden myyttiä ja muotokuvaa rakennetun minän representaationa.

I am a photographic artist, educator and researcher. I have been teaching photography at e.g.  Aalto University’s School of Art and Design, University of the Arts Helsinki’s Academy of Fine Arts and LAB University of Applied Sciences’ Institute of Design and Fine Arts. My specialty are issues related to lighting, portraiture and still life themes, which I approach in my work and teaching from both practical and theoretical perspectives. 

My dissertation Harcourt’s Holy Ampulla – Exercises in the Genre of Black and White Studio Portrait Photography focuses on the tradition and practices of glamour portrait. In my work, I study the myth of likeness and portrait as a self-constructed representation.

Curriculum Vitae
Kari Pyykönen, (born 1966)
Lives and works in Helsinki, Finland

Education
Doctoral candidate, 2011–
MFA, 1992

Solo exhibitions Clichés, Galleria Uusi Kipinä, 2020
Metanoia, Galleria Uusi Kipinä, 2016
Aide-mémoire, Photographic Gallery Hippolyte Studio, 2009
Sentimentally Yours, Photographic Gallery Hippolyte, 2004
Incognito, Photographic Gallery Hippolyte, 2000
Photographs, Helsinki Artist’s society showroom Tieke ry, 2000
Promise, Gallery Klobben, 1998
Habitus, Zone-gallery, 1997. East-Helsinki culture week, 1997
Family, Photographic gallery Hippolyte, 1990. Valkeakoski-institute exhibition hall, 1991

Group exhibitions
ArtFair Suomi 2017, 2019
Harha, Photographic Gallery Hippolyte, 2016
Polaroid, Finnish Museum of Photography, 2012
Voyeur -the Hidden Photographer, Galerie Clairefontaine, Luxembourg, 2011
Angels, Photographic gallery Hippolyte, 1995
Male Anxiety- 7 finnish photographers, Neue geschellshaft für bildende Kunst, Berlin, 1994
Young roosters- male photographer’s comment on sex, Viaborg, Tenalji von Fersen, 1992
Fotofinlandia- exhibition, Cable factory, 1992
Stop, dreams and every-day life, Finnish Museum of Photography, 1992
See your environment, Iisalmi camera, 1991
K 2 wait, Stockmann, 1991

Grants Finnish Cultural Foundation, 1991, 2004, 2018
Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation, 2011
Arts Promotion Centre Finland, 1995, 1998, 2005, 2021
Alfred Kordelin Foundation, 2003, 2020
Arts Council of Uusimaa, 1995, 2000
Helsinki City Cultural and Library Committee, 1998
Aalto University’s School of Art, Design and Architecture, 1990, 1992, 2010

Commissions
Official portrait of Dean Eero Kasanen, Aalto University, School of Business, 2011

Collections
Finnish Art Society
Finnish State
Helsinki City Art Museum
Kellokoski Hospital collections
Private collections

Memberships
Photographic Artists’ Association

Teaching positions
Lecturer: Aalto University’s School of Art, Design and Architecture , Degree Programme in Photography, 2001–2015 Head of the study programme, 2004–2011.
Visiting lecturer: University of the Arts Helsinki, Academy of Fine Arts, 2014–2019. LAB-University of Applied Sciences, Institute of Design and Fine Arts, 2016–. Helsinki polytechnic School Stadia, 1999–2007, Espoo- and Vantaa Polytechnic Institute, 1997. University of applied sciences Novia, 2022.
Part time teacher: Aalto University’s School of Art, Design and Architecture, 1993–. Art Education, 1998– Graphic Design, 2001– Fashion and Textile Design, 1994–1999 Open University, 1998.

Positions of trust
Photographic Artists’ Association, member of the board, 1999–2004