Siri Haapanen is a light designer and visual artist from Porvoo, now based in Helsinki, Finland. In their work, they seek to explore their own relationship to making art as part of community, environment and society. Finding socially and ecologically sustainable ways of working is at the heart of their work. Their aim is to create high quality and accessible art for audiences of all ages and backgrounds. With almost ten years of experience in peace education, especially for children and young people, these attitudes and lessons also guide their artistic work.
Juurehine (Made of Roots, 2025) examines Karelian heritage and the artist’s roots in Border Karelia. The work combines Karelian imagery, symbolism, and traditional embroidery to tell the story of a “forgotten land,” whose memories begin to fade unless future generations carry them forward.
The artwork is especially appealing for its multiple layers, going into more and more details. Starting from the the room where the artwork is situated and which it colours red, flickering inviting, then revealing traditional handicraft motives, that are compiled from pixels of photographs of the area where the artist’s roots lie, and going into details of those images, including some of the artist’s own archive. The artwork plays with scale, presenting large objects like houses in a minuscule scale, and multiplying the size of handicraft ornaments. It mixes photography with light art in a surprising yet meaningful way.
EDUCATION
2025 Master of Theatre Arts, University of the arts Helsinki, Theater academy, Lighting design Programme
RECENT GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025 Lux In, part of Lux Helsinki Festival