2024 – SÍM /Reykjavik
Jenni Toivonen
My practice revolves around themes such as the interconnectedness of life, ecology and impermanence and I often explore these topics through the materiality of the human body and the Earth. I see the body as a vessel for a primal creative force and a portal for a deeper existential understanding and alignment. For me, making photographs is a corporeal process through which I seek to build reciprocity and reinforce my connection with the Earth and the non-
human realm.
As water is a very present element in Iceland, during my residency period at SIM Residency and
Ljósmyndaskolinn darkroom in Reykjavik I focused on developing an on-going project called
‘boundless’ which explores water as a connecting and life-giving element. By perceiving water as
a dissolving agent, capable of transforming and transcending boundaries while being integral to
our bodies, the work proposes embracing a planetary perspective and dismantling the illusion of
separateness. The project delves into the body, as well as the photographic process as a
transitional form, a space of becoming.
While working in the darkroom I focused on producing silver gelatine prints and making
experiments with alternative techniques such as solarization to emphasize the visual language of
the images. At the end of the residency I had the opportunity to hold a short exhibition of the
work at SIM Gallery in downtown Reykjavik. In the fluid process of cross-pollination, the
installation drew influences from fellow artists at the residency, with crochet pieces symbolizing
existential entanglement and the perpetual process of becoming-with.
Jenni Toivonen (b. 1993) is a Finnish visual artist working in the extended field of fine art
photography. Her practice is motivated by the entanglements of personal and environmental
storylines and based on research and analog processes. She holds an MA in Photography (Aalto
University, 2022) and was selected as one of the FUTURES Nordic Talents 2024. Her work has
been exhibited in various solo exhibitions and curated group exhibitions in Finland and abroad.
Website: www.jennitoivonen.com
Instagram: @jenvonen