AI Brings a New Finnish Perspective on Women: Interview with Laura Rautjoki
Writer: Ellinoora Sandell, published in Turun Sanomat on November 11, 2024, at 7:30 PM.
The article was originally published in Finnish and translated into English by Kate Vass Galerie.
At the Amiraalistonkatu Warehouses, Finland’s first graduates from the Master’s level program in photographic art are being celebrated. Laura Rautjoki is one of the artists featured in the group exhibition, Source: www.ts.fi
At first glance, the viewer is captivated by dreamy pastel tones and a multitude of diverse women: women in cars, lying in hospital beds, swimming in ponds. Yet, these moments never actually occurred, nor were they captured with a camera. These images were created by photographic artist Laura Rautjoki in collaboration with artificial intelligence. Rautjoki set out to explore representations of women in Finnish photographic history, beginning her journey by browsing old photographs in the Finnish archives. “I was feeding data to my brain,” Rautjoki explains.
However, she did not directly use the imagery from the Finnish archive for her project. Instead, she began entering prompts into Midjourney, an AI-driven application that generates images based on textual descriptions. In one piece, Rautjoki depicted memories of her youth, recalling the time she lived in a dormitory with a group of girls. Using prompts like "car" and "full of girls," she directed the AI to create an image. The result: a striking depiction of women of various ages sitting in a black car on the edge of a snowy field.
“The mood of the day the image was created is also embedded in it. That morning, as I was taking my child to daycare, the fog was incredibly thick,” Rautjoki reflects.
Laura Rautjoki, Airy, 2024
AI often produces fascinating imagery. Sometimes an image is finalized after the first set of prompts, while other times the artist refines the instructions up to twenty times. Upon closer inspection of Rautjoki’s images, one notices unsettling details: some figures’ eyes are eerily misaligned, evoking a sense of unease reminiscent of a horror film. These AI-generated anomalies have been deliberately left in the images. “This is how I make the technological dimension visible. I’m not trying to conceal the use of AI,” Rautjoki explains.
What Kind of Partner is AI?
At the very least, AI enables the creation of images in a completely new way, removing the practical barriers that often hinder ideas. While Laura Rautjoki sometimes finds AI’s output conventional and frustrating, more often, it sparks spontaneity and inspiration. “Your own thinking can be surprisingly limited, even as an artist. AI helps you think outside the box,” she says.
Rautjoki strives to blend art and technology in her work. Professionally, she is a photographer, but her skills extend beyond the camera. A few years ago, she completed an intensive coding course and even worked as a junior full-stack developer. She has long been interested in the evolution of Web 3.0 and the role of digital NFT artworks. In Finland, the use of AI in art remains less common compared to other parts of the world, positioning Rautjoki within an international artist community. Domestically, the topic is still sensitive and polarizing.
When Rautjoki began sharing her AI-generated images on Instagram, her audience changed. Many traditional photography enthusiasts stopped following her. “I completely understand the criticism surrounding AI, including concerns about ethics, environmental impacts, and resource consumption. However, I believe these issues will improve over time,” she explains. Looking ahead, Rautjoki aims to make her AI-generated works more personal by incorporating more of her own visual language, further bridging the gap between human creativity and technology.
Laura Rautjoki, Break, 2024
Turku Positions Itself as a Hub for Photographic Art
Laura Rautjoki’s images are featured in a group exhibition showcasing the work of 12 artists. These pieces also serve as the artistic thesis projects for Finland’s first graduates from a Finnish-language Master’s program focused on photographic art. Since 1992, Turku has been a center for training photographic artists. A year and a half ago, a group of photography professionals began their studies at the Turku University of Applied Sciences’ Arts Academy. This program culminates in a Master’s degree (YAMK), which is equivalent in skill level and public office qualification to a university-level Master’s degree.
“In advanced studies, each student develops their own artistic expression,” explains Taina Erävaara, Head of Education and Research in Visual Arts. The program’s educators include renowned names such as Ismo Luukkonen, Harri Pälviranta, and Jari Silomäki.
Laura Rautjoki, Obsessed in Normality, 2024
Laura Rautjoki, who previously earned a degree in cultural production and holds a professional photographer’s diploma, found the 1.5-year YAMK program transformative. “My understanding of myself as an artist used to be quite vague. Through these studies, I gained clarity and confidence because our projects were fully supported,” she shares.
The graduates’ exhibition presents a wide range of photographic art, spanning experimental, documentary, poetic, and politically engaged works.
This fall, the second YAMK cohort in photographic art began their studies, drawing artists from across Finland to the Arts Academy. Applications for the next round of studies will open next spring.
A group exhibition by the first graduates of the Master’s program in Photographic Art at the Turku Arts Academy showcases excerpts from the artistic thesis projects of 12 artists. The exhibition features a diverse range of photographic art created by Nina Dannert, Antti Hakuri, Anne Haimakainen, Ulla Heinonen, Jana Macháčková-Oey, Risto Musta, Hilja Mustonen, Tiina Mäki, Outi Pihlajoki, Laura Rautjoki, Juha Vakkilainen, and Soile Voima.
The exhibitions are open at Köysiratagalleria in Turku (Linnankatu 56) until November 24th and at the Amiraalistonkatu Warehouses (Amiraalistonkatu 8) until November 29th. Opening hours: Mon–Fri 12–5 PM, Sat–Sun 12–4 PM.