AAMULEHTI - Wednesday August 29, 2003

In the escalator, on our way to the fifth floor, we meet a lot of young people… In the inner room of the exhibition, the Finland-Swedes come forward in a surprising way.

Seven years ago the photographer Anna C Eriksson made contact with a group of skinheads in Stockholm. From that moment she began her exploration of the otherwise so intimidating subculture. It also surprised Eriksson that many of the skinheads in Stockholm had Finnish background.

- My network became bigger and bigger, and very soon I understood that their subculture is more than just a look, with the boots and shaved heads.
In front of the paintings there are show-cases with several pair of boots - they represent various types of skinheads.
  The photographs show skinheads at concerts, passed out in a cabin on the Helsinki ferry and strolling on the street…

- It was my curiosity that made me want to find out the truth about Swedish skinheads. I have met many strong feelings – everything from happiness to despair … There are as many truths as there are individuals, Eriksson says.

Tiina Rajamäki
www.aamulehti.fii