Marja Helander (born 1965) is a Sámi photographer, video artist and film-maker with roots both in Helsinki and Utsjoki. In her work, she has studied various themes including her own identity between the Finnish and the Sámi culture. Since 1992, Helander’s work has been exhibited in two dozen solo exhibitions and over 50 group exhibitions in Finland and abroad.
In her art, Marja Helander often draws on her background between two cultures - Finnish and Sami. What drives her as an artist is curiosity and the desire to constantly learn something new. ”That's why it's been so inspiring to work with video art and short film after a long career in photography,” says Helander.
At the 2018 Tampere Film Festival, Marja Helander was awarded the Risto Jarva Prize for her film Eatnanvuloš lottit, Birds In The Earth. The Mänttä Art Festival has selected Marja Helander as the curator for the 2019 exhibition.
Waiting for the Morning
Print on aluminium, 1048 × 700 mm, 2018-2020
The Evening Covers Everything
Print on aluminium, 1694 × 700 mm, 2018-2020
The Secrets of Dusk
Print on aluminium, 1615 × 600 mm, 2018-2020
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