Jenny Lexander : SISU - an exhibition on life during the Finnish Winter War

When Jenny’s grandfather was 18 years old, he had to cycle from the South of Finland to Ivalo in the North. It was a journey that took several months. The photographer was fascinated by his war experience, she singled out each individual stop and followed his tracks. The Finnish institute in Paris now presents the consequent portraits in an exhibition.

Jenny Lexander travelled to Ivalo, Inari, Angeli, Sodankylä and Rovaniemi, and captured what she saw. She talked to the war veterans and wrote down the stories of the 84-97 year olds. The Soviet Union attacked Finland 70 years ago, forcing the Finns and Swedes into war.

The Paris-based fashion photographer from Sweden, selected SISU as the title for the exhibition, as it represents everything that the war was. It roughly translates into willpower, purposefulness, endurance and a rational approach in times of emergency.

Her partially blurred pictures light up an area of subject which is usually quite quiet. She visualises the inner strength of the men that were just lads at the time, who so bravely managed to protect the country’s independence.

The exhibition is a cooperation between Jenny Lexander and art director Susanna Knyphausen. The project is supervised by Johanna Suo of Innovation Culture Europe ICE, which encourages the improvement of relations between European states through art and culture.

The exhibition can currently be viewed at the Finnish Institute in Paris. The subject marks a significant time in the Scandinavians countries. Jenny Lexander’s pictures are equally as significant and eye-catching.


L'Institut Finlandais de Paris
9 September - 10 October 2009
60 Rue de Ècoles
75005 Paris

Additional dates:
Copenhagen - Gallery of the Nordic Council of Ministers
22 October - 14 November 2009
Helsinki – Finnish Museum of Photography
25 November 2009 – 6 January 2010

Find out more information on BOOKLET photographer Jenny Lexander’s varied work on www.lexander.se.


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