Jonne Heinonen’s ROM photographic work at Kuopio Museum 1.11.2024-26.1.2025

ROM is a photographic work by artist Jonne Heinonen, who has been working with the Finnish Roma community from 2016 to 2024.The work deals with humanity, belonging and understanding one’s own position as an artist. Kuopio Museum will present an exclusive exhibition of images from the large-scale project, which Heinonen photographed while visiting Roma homes and communities across Finland, including Northern Savo.

The exhibition deals with the culture and everyday life of Finnish Roma from the perspective of an artist from outside the community. The exhibition also includes a new video work by Heinonen, which aims to highlight the Finnish Roma’s own thoughts about their social position.

The Roma are the group that faces the most discrimination in Finland because of their origin. While portraying members of the community, Heinonen has reflected on his own position as an artist and discussed with the participants questions of power and representation related to the situation: what is the role of an artist from outside the community? What does the work that has been made in this setting try to say?