The photographic exhibition Those Who Left shows what can happen to people who have left their home, striving for something better.

Leaving is a big decision. Your family, language and culture, familiar landscapes, smells and tastes are all left behind. The reason for leaving are as diverse as the people who choose to leave. Fear or hope, love or work, curiosity or threats can all be motives for leaving. It is a decision that changes lives.

People left and still choose to leave Finland as well. In the past, Finns headed for America or Sweden. Even now a million of them live abroad. For a Finn, national boarders are open. A Finnish passport allows you to travel to 188 countries without visa. For others, boarders are closed. An Afghan passport allows you to visit 26 countries, a Bangladeshi passport, 41, and a Senegalese passport, 56 countries.

This makes the journey both tricky and dangerous. Some attempt to cross the sea, but drown before reaching the other shore. Some make it across, but must lead their lives as undocumented migrants under constant threat of deportation. Other gain asylum, the right to work and to live their lives. For then, Finland becomes new homeland. This exhibition tells the story of what it is to leave, and to arrive in Europe bearing a passport that open no doors.

In their photographs from 2008–2018,  Anna Autio and Katja Tähjä from Finland capture the impact that being on the move has had on people. This is the first time the two photographers have brought their works together. Journalists Kaisa Viitanen and Taina Tervonen are also part of the working group behind the exhibition, as are graphic designers Anne-Mari Ahonen and Anna-Mari Tenhunen. Those Who Left is a very human exhibition focused on identifiability: that could be me, or you. It looks at an issue up close and personal.

The exhibition is located at Helinä Rautavaara Museum. It is the only functioning ethnographic museum in Finland and the only museum in Finland dedicated to the life story of woman. The museum is a currently a nominee for the Museum of the Year Award in Finland.

More here.

Photos by Katja Tähjä.