In Minun väestönsuojani (in Finnish: My Civil Protection shelter), the author describes, through photography and objects, his encounter with the väestönjuojat located in apartment buildings around Finland.

I became interested in this subject as soon as he settled in Finland in 2019. At the time, the Geist of väestönsuojat was anachronistic, a holdover from the Cold War era, and they were not really taken into consideration. Something which has (unfortunately) changed in 2022.

Like the emergency alarm (that sounds every first Monday of the month in Finland), the stickers showing an orange square with blue triangle on some doors remind us that there is a governmental structure ready to protect us. Although the modern väestönsuojat have never been called upon to fulfill their primary purpose, this doesn't negate their significance. It was one of the first things that struck him within the Oulu building he resided in. There, the väestönsuoja evolved into a multifunctional space, hosting both celebratory gatherings and a pyykinkuivaushuone (laundry drying room).

The core essence persists, even though its application shapes its significance.

This very concept is the reason I am interested in capturing these spaces as they exist in the present moment. Therefore, I employ photography to document and address the dual nature of the reality within these protective spaces. Despite being designed for security, their everyday peacetime functions contrastingly involve serving as storage rooms, gyms, or bicycle storage areas.