My roots are deeply anchored in a cultural heritage of hard work and religious conviction. I was born in
a small solitary village in the woods on the west coast of Finland in the late 70's. When I was twelve, my father died. As a child I had always collected things, but then it became even more important for me to collect objects – containers of memories and emotions. And not just objects, I wanted to collect and embrace life fully, through my eyes and documentation. I have continued to gather both things, people and impressions near me. Under the skin. Close to the heart. To encapsulate, maintain and care for.
a small solitary village in the woods on the west coast of Finland in the late 70's. When I was twelve, my father died. As a child I had always collected things, but then it became even more important for me to collect objects – containers of memories and emotions. And not just objects, I wanted to collect and embrace life fully, through my eyes and documentation. I have continued to gather both things, people and impressions near me. Under the skin. Close to the heart. To encapsulate, maintain and care for.
I am drawn to the contrasts, throwing myself between the true and the imagined, the ruled and the free, the thought and the intuitive, the dead and the living. I perform, play and explore the extremes of the outskirts to wake something up – catch, release, awake more, the being, the human being. To be with.
To be more. To watch. To identify. Share the secrets of life, picture by picture, piece by piece – but never completely. Because completely does not exist.
To be more. To watch. To identify. Share the secrets of life, picture by picture, piece by piece – but never completely. Because completely does not exist.
CONTACT:
ajalundphoto@gmail.com
+358 50 5971603
Thank you!
CURRICULUM VITAE
Aja Lund * 01.03.1979
SOLOEXHIBITIONS
2024 I am a collector, I want more! – Ostrobothnia Photo Center Pova, Lapua/FI
2024 Suomi Barbie – Photo Gallery Ibis, Vasa/FI
2024 Suomi Barbie – P-galleria, Pori/FI
2021 Jag är en samlare, jag vill ha mer! – Kulturcentrum, Sandviken/SWE
2020 Jag är en samlare, jag vill ha mer! – Bokcafé Pilgatan, Umeå/SWE
2020 Jag är en samlare, jag vill ha mer! – Tobaksmagasinet | The Jakobstad – Pietarsaari Museum/FI
2019 Jag är en samlare, jag vill ha mer! – The library of Larsmo municipality, Larsmo/FI
2019 Jag är en samlare, jag vill ha mer! – Photo Gallery Ibis, Vasa/FI
GROUPEXHIBITIONS
2023 Mycelium – Tempus, Jakobstad/FI
2022 Still human – Gallery White Box, Jakobstad/FI
2022 Prometheus – Bank Hall, Jakobstad/FI
2022 Y|our eyes – FLAK, Patreksfjör∂ur/IS
2021 Exhibition of the year, Jakarte – Tobaksmagasinet | The Jakobstad – Pietarsaari Museum/FI
2021 Sold Out Gallery – Gallery White Box, Jakobstad/FI
2021 Shapes and spaces – Stygn i kors eller den fula ankungskonsten – Tobaksmagasinet, Jakobstad/FI
2019 Utblick – Jag är en samlare, jag vill ha mer! – Tobaksmagasinet | The Jakobstad – Pietarsaari Museum
2018 Surfaces – In the Province of the Undressed – Mikkeli Centre of Photography, Mikkeli/FI
2018 Insight – In the Province of the Undressed – Ostrobothnian Photography Centre Pova, Lapua/FI
2018 Ytdjup – I Provinsen Avklädd – Gallery White Box, Jakobstad/FI
2017 From Old to New – Handelsesplanaden – Galleri Zebra, Karis/FI
GRANTS
2024 The Society of Swedish Ostrobothnia
2024 The association Föreningen Konstsamfundet
2024 The Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland
2022 The Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland
2021 Arts Promotion Centre Finland
2021 The Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland
2020 The Society of Swedish Ostrobothnia
2020 The Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland
2019 The Society of Swedish Literature in Finland
2019 The Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland – 1-year working grant
2018 The Society of Swedish Literature in Finland
2018 The Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland
BOOKS
2023 Dummy - Aja, Evidence of Death's Opposite
2019 Jag är en samlare, jag vill ha mer!
AWARDS
2020 The book ”Jag är en samlare, jag vill ha mer!” was nominated to The book of the Year at Collector’s Awards at the Antique fair in Stockholm
EDUCATION
2021–2022 Master of Culture and Arts, Photography, Novia University of Applied Sciences
2015–2019 Bachelor of Culture and Arts/Medianom, Novia University of Applied Sciences
2001 Graphic design, Svenska Yrkeshögskolan
1996–1999 Culture media and visual art, Svenska Yrkesinstitutet
INTERNSHIP | WORKSHOP
2020–2021 Atelier Smedsby, one year workshop with Margot Wallard and JH Engström in Paris
2018 Internship with Anders Petersen in Stockholm, workshop with Anders Petersen in HelsingforsWORK
2020– Entrepreneur – Aja Lund PhotoArt – fine art, portrait, commissions, teaching
Founder of Kulturkollektivet Insidan (2020) where I rent out seven rooms to cultural workers and
offer a living room for cultural conversations
2023 Teacher of photography courses and degree work assessor at Novia University of Applied Sciences
2013– Part-owner, Ab Lundagård Oy – Lifestyleshop and webshop, www.lundagard.fi
2008–2019 Entrepreneur – Lundagård form & interiör
2000–2013 Gave birth to five children, moved and renovated a log house
2000 Layouter, assistant, Advertising agency PAP
WORKS IN COLLECTIONS
Sandvikens Konsthall, SWE