Photography captures moments, and when you look at them you can go back to those moments and relive certain situations. But they can also capture emotions and feelings in people's faces and that is wonderful.
A few days ago I came across a very particular exhibition of photographs, the photographer is called Tuomo Manninen and the beautiful display of his photographs is called Fragile Peace. It started at the beginning of April and will run for two months.
Two things struck me from the first moment, one was that all the photographs had the dimension 1x1 and the other was that they all coincided in that they were group portraits where you could see different expressions in the faces.
Each photograph showed groups of people, but in different environments, some at work, others at meetings, others looked like friends, meetings of some organisation or sport or any other subject, but everything referred to the groups, to the sociability of the people, but people who had something in common, who were brought together for some reason or subject, people with common interests.
You can see in each of the photos the theme of humanity, and how in small groups with things in common a special kind of energy reigns. Groups of people who come together or meet for a specific reason.
On the other hand, the artist has been internationally recognised and has travelled extensively. In these cases, for example, we see pictures of Belfast and even Sarajevo. In this way he explores people, humanity, the social aspect, what brings people together around something or someone.
These people share common things such as a common thread, a job, a bond, a hobby, a nationality, an environment. Many things can bring people together and lead them to meet.
At meetings people exchange talks, spaces, meals, drinks, points of view, but the most important thing is to feel at ease with those people with whom one feels affinity and that is noticeable in these photographs.
These common interests are what bring people together and bring them into groups, whether it is a hobby, music, a topic of conversation or a common need. And in their midst, as they come together for something in common, peace reigns. There is no discord or quarrels, but peace and serenity. A pleasant atmosphere where time is spent and everyone is in harmony. And I know a lot of that in these photographs, no matter where you are in the world, this applies to everyone.
In each photograph you can see the faces and the expressions of the people and that good energy in that meeting, in that group and in the sharing among them.
The artist called this exhibition Fragile Peace, perhaps because it is right at the moment of that meeting that peace reigns, in that instant, in that union. I think the words that come to mind the most are the same, union and peace, and I think they are closely related.
Unity between people means that they don't quarrel in the form of a fight, they are not upset and there is an atmosphere of harmony and peace, and I think that is what the artist is trying to portray.
Living together is never easy, but if there are common interests, a sharing, this union and peace can be achieved. From here multiple reflections on these words and humanity can emerge.
I am delighted that the photographer has found in his travels, on his way, these groups that with good disposition within their meetings have lent themselves to these photographs so spontaneous and of so much value that make us think about that peace and its fragility.
A beautiful sample of photographs with a lot of feeling and a lot to think about. Thank you very much for joining me today, I wish you a good Sunday. See you soon.
Amonet.
All photographs are my own.