Father and Son-series

A child’s world is full of opportunities, freedom, joy and play. When photographer Sami Parkkinen became a father, he took an interest in children’s way of experiencing the world around them. The story of a son’s growth emphasises the sensitivity and creativity of a child and the pride of a father, connected to melancholy over the fleeting nature of childhood.

The exhibition is about the world of children, which adults often see as unfinished – but for children, it is complete. Children grow, develop and change as they move towards the world of adults. It is adults’ job to let children experience childhood.

Photographer Sami Parkkinen started taking photos of his son Arvi when he was born in 2012. Observing the child’s world through photos captures feelings and experiences that are universal yet personal. Over the years, photography has become an art project shared by father and son.

Sami Parkkinen says that, as a father of an 8-year-old, he feels strongly about the threats to humanity and the environment, and he takes a stand on these topics. However, he does not simply point out problems, but builds hope for a better world, instead.

Concern for a child is part of being a parent, but so is the other extreme: joy, love, carefreeness and play. Play is the superpower of childhood from which the works in Parkkinen’s art project are derived. In the earliest photos in the series, the child was not yet aware of the camera, but slowly, Arvi grows into an active agent participating in the works. Many of the works are based on a game invented by Arvi, which they have later recreated in front of the camera.

Press release by National museum of Finland on exhibition Father & Son - Photographs by Sami Parkkinen, National museum of Finland, Helsinki, 14.5.-5.9.2021

 
 
  • parkkinen/father_and_son/10_It_all_comes_back_lowres

    It all comes back, 2015
    pigment print
    108 x 151,4 cm, edition 5 + 2AP
    50 x 70 cm, edition 8 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/11_Sunrise_lowres

    Sunrise, 2014
    pigment print
    132 x 101,4 cm, edition 5 + 2AP
    25 x 19,2 cm, edition 8 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/12_I_wish_this_day_would_never_end_lowres

    I wish this day would never end, 2016
    pigment print
    108 x 132 cm, edition 5 + 2AP
    70 x 55,5 cm, edition 8 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/14_Wanderer_lowres

    Wanderer, 2018
    pigment print
    108 x 132 cm, edition 5 + 2AP
    25 x 18,7 cm, edition 10 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/15_upside_down_lowres

    Upside down, 2018
    pigment print
    50 x 69 cm, edition 5 + 2AP
    25 x 18,2 cm, edition 10 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/16_New_balance_lowres

    New balance, 2021
    pigment print
    30 x 40 cm
    edition 5 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/17_Nature_boy_lowres

    Nature boy, 2017
    pigmentprint
    100 x 123,8 cm, edition 5 + 2AP
    70 x 56,5 cm, edition 10 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/18_Worm_lowres

    Worm, 2020
    pigment print
    75 x 100 cm, edition 5 + 2AP
    34,5 x 50 cm, edition 10 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/19_Father_and_son_lowres

    Father & son, 2018
    pigment print
    214 x 160 cm, edition 5 + 2AP
    70 x 52,5 cm, edition 10 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/1_how_to_spend_it_lowres

    How to spend it, 2014
    pigment print
    180 x 135,5 cm, edition 5 + 2AP
    54 x 66 cm, edition 8 + 2AP
    28 x 23 cm, edition 10 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/21_Flow_lowres

    Flow, 2018
    pigment print
    160 x 120 cm, edition 5 + 2AP
    50 x 37,4 cm, edition 10 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/22_Shelter_lowres

    Shelter, 2018
    pigment print
    86 x 116,5 cm, edition 5 + 2AP
    18,5 x 25 cm, edition 10 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/23_Bravo_lowres

    Bravo, 2018
    pigment print
    125 x 168 cm, edition 5 + 2AP
    18,7 x 25 cm, edition 10 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/24_Ocean_lowres

    Ocean, 2019
    pigment print
    107 x 143 cm, edition 5 + 2AP
    52,5 x 70 cm, edition 10 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/25_Arvi_at_7__lowres

    Arvi at 7, 20189
    pigment print
    90 x 67,5 cm
    edition 5 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/26_Herbarium_lowres

    Herbarium, 2019
    pigment print
    80 x 60 cm, edition 5 + 2AP
    25 x 18,5 cm, edition 10 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/27_waiting_lowres

    Waiting, 2021
    pigment print
    80 x 60 cm
    edition 5 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/29_New_departure_lowres

    New departure, 2019
    pigment print
    180 x 144 cm, edition 5 + 2AP
    70 x 56 cm, edition 10 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/30_The_old_and_the_young_lowres

    The old and the young, 2019
    pigment print
    160 x 120 cm, edition 5 + 2AP
    75 x 56,2 cm, edition 10 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/31_The_Convalescent_toipilas_lowres

    The convalescent (Toipilas), 2019
    pigment print
    60 x 80 cm
    edition 5 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/33_fountain_lowres

    Fountain, 2018
    pigmentprint
    128,4 x 100 cm, edition 5 + 2AP
    32,1 x 25 cm, edition 10 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/35_The_Scientist_lowres

    The Scientist (Art at 6), 2018
    pigmentprint
    69,5 x 52 cm
    edition 5 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/36_Forms_of_Anarhcy_2_lowres

    Forms of anarchy 2, 2018
    pigmentprint
    100 x 140 cm, edition 5 + 2AP
    50 x 70 cm, edition 10 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/37_Arvi_at_5__lowres

    Arvi at 5, 2017
    pigment print
    48 x 36 cm,
    edition 5 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/38_Arvi_at_8_lowres

    Arvi at 8, 2018
    pigment print
    43 x 32 cm
    edition 5 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/39_ArviRodin_lowres

    Arvi & Rodin, 2018
    pigment print
    180 x 135,5 cm, edition 5 + 2AP
    70 x 52,5 cm, edition 10 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/3_Everyday_sculpture_lowres

    Everyday sculpture, 2014
    pigment print
    140 x 107,5 cm, edition 5 + 2AP
    70 x 53,8 cm, edition 8 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/40_-Arvi_lowres

    Arvi, 2014
    pigment print
    132 x 108 cm, edition 5 + 2AP
    66 x 54 cm, edition 8 + 2AP
    28 x 23 cm, edition 10 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/41_Forms_of_Anarchy_lowres

    Forms of anarchy, 2014
    pigment print
    100 x 140 cm, edition 5 + 2AP
    50 x 70 cm, edition 10 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/42_Rules_lowres

    Rules, 2017
    pigment print
    135 x 180 cm, edition 5 + 2AP
    70 x 52,5 cm, edition 10 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/43_Horizon_lowres

    Horizon, 2017
    pigment print
    90,5 x 68 cm, edition 5 + 2AP
    25 x 18,8 cm, edition 10 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/44_I_want_the_world_to_stop_lowres

    I want the world to stop, 2012
    HD video
    4:04
    edition 5 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/45_Tunnel_lowres

    Tunnel, 2020
    pigment print
    134,5 x 180 cm, edition 5 + 2AP
    52,5 x 70 cm, edition 10 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/46_Aim_and_shoot_lowres

    Aim and shoot, 2020
    pigmentprint
    100 x 140 cm, editio 5 + 2AP
    50 x 70 cm, editio 10 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/47_Funeral_lowres

    Funeral, 2020
    pigmentprint
    18 x 13,5 cm
    edition 10 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/48_Circle_of_life__lowres

    Circle of life, 2020
    pigment print
    180 x 135 cm, edition 5 + 2AP
    23 x 17 cm, edition 10 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/49_Listener_lowres

    Listener, 2020
    pigment print
    70 x 93 cm, edition 5 + 2AP
    18,8 x 25 cm, edition 10 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/4_Mountain__lowres

    Mountain, 2014
    pigment print
    108 x 151,45 cm, edition 5 + 2AP
    98 x 70 cm, edition 8 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/50_Bird_lowres

    Bird, 2020
    pigment print
    27 x 20 cm
    edition 10 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/5_Look_father_you_are_flying_lowres

    Look father you are flying, 2014
    pigment print
    60 x 46 cm
    edition 5 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/6_Joyride_lowres

    Joyride, 2014
    pigment print
    125 x 96 cm, edition 5 + 2AP
    70 x 53,8 cm, edition 8 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/7_Growth_ring_lowres

    Growth ring, 2014
    pigment print
    132 x 101,4 cm, edition 5 + 2AP
    70 x 53,8 cm, edition 8 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/8_Blue_monday_lowres

    Blue monday, 2014
    pigment print
    55 x 42 cm, edition 5 + 2AP
    25 x 19,2 cm, edition 8 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/9_Spriritual_graffiti

    Spiritual graffiti, 2014
    pigment print
    67 x 94 cm, edition 5 + 2AP
    25 x 17,8 cm, edition 8 + 2AP

  • parkkinen/father_and_son/IMG_0027_-pienennetty

    Sculpture / Leisure chair no 1, 2021
    chromed steel
    sculpture: 175 x 104,5 x 240 cm
    pedestal: 20 x 345 x 238 cm
    edition 3 + 2AP

 
 
 
 
 
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