Capturing Clouds – The Life and Art of Matti Poutvaara
South Karelia Museum, Lappeenranta
- 29.4.2023–29.10.2025
Originally from Parikkala, Matti Poutvaara (1909–1989) is one of the most famous and prolific landscape and regional photographers of the Finnish post-war reconstruction era.
Having sparked a passion in photography through a correspondence course and self-study, Poutvaara (Poutanen until 1936) honed his skills in professional photography working as a non-commissioned officer specialising in photography and a technician for the Finnish Air Force in 1930–1945. After the wars, Poutvaara became a freelance photographer and gained public renown for photo books published by WSOY, which sold almost half a million copies in total. The exhibition reflects Poutvaara’s long and varied career moving from Karelian force reconnaissance to camera clubs, and from photo-related publication activities to the promotion of domestic tourism. At the same time, the exhibition provides glimpses into the history of Finnish photography and shows us pieces of the lost Finland we can now only see in pictures. The exhibition was curated by art historian Antti Vallius, whose book of the same name will be released in the spring of 2023.
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Museum contact details
South Karelia Museum
Kristiinankatu 15, 53900 Lappeenranta
040 130 9218
Yhteydet julkisilla
Näytä reitti museolle Matkahuollon reittioppaassa
Katso reitti Matkahuollon reittioppaassa
Päämäärä:
South Karelia Museum, Kristiinankatu 15, 53900 Lappeenranta
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Admission fees
Pääsymaksut 11/8/0 €
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Käteinen, useimmat luotto- ja debit-kortit.
Opening hours
Mon | Closed |
Tue | 11:00-17:00 |
Wed | 11:00-17:00 |
Thu | 11:00-17:00 |
Fri | 11:00-17:00 |
Sat | 11:00-17:00 |
Sun | 11:00-17:00 |
OPEN 2.1.-4.6. and 21.8.-30.12. Tue-Sun 11-17, 5.6.-20.8. Mon-Fri 10-18, Sat-Sun 11-17 CLOSED 1.1., 7.-10.4., 7.-28.4., 30.4.-1.5., 18.5., 23.-26.12., 30.10.-24.11., 6.12., 23.-26.12., 31.12.