Artist Statement

Mari Mäntynen's artistic work focuses on the question: How could we understand each other better? She addresses everyday tensions, contradictions and difficult societal problems through collaboration, absurdity and play. She challenges her audience to confront others and their own prejudices.

By combining documentary and performativity, Mäntynen creates vivid visual worlds that reflect the complexity of human encounters and experiences. Mari Mäntynen's work encompasses photography, video and performance. The works are participatory and Mäntynen also appears in them herself.

It is natural for Mäntynen to perform herself in her works and at the same time explore the social side of the moments of photography and the opportunities and positive effects it brings. In each of her works, she strives to challenge herself and always move on the edges of social norms and her comfort zone. 

Bio

Mari Mäntynen (b.1997) is a Finnish visual artist born and raised in Kerava’s prison area. She is working with photography, video and performance.

Mäntynen started her artistic career with music and theater and after first touch with a camera then developing more into visual arts..  Mäntynen is currently pursuing a Master of Arts degree at the Academy of Fine Arts, University of the Arts Helsinki. She studied a Bachelor of Photography degree at Lab University of Applied Sciences and during that time also studied for half a year in Germany at FH-Bielefeld as part of the Erasmus+ program. Mäntynen's first solo exhibition was on display in Turku, Finland, at the Peri Photography Center in 2022. Her work has been included in several group exhibitions in Finland, for example at the Amos Rex Art Museum, as well as in Slovakia and Germany. She is currently working on the Strangers project at the Villa Karo artist residency in Benin.