Marja Helander

{{Short description|Finnish-Sámi photographer (born 1965)}} {{Infobox artist | honorific_prefix = | name = Marja Helander | honorific_suffix = | image = Marja-Helander.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Sámi photographer, video artist, visual artist and film-maker Marja Helander in October 2018 | native_name = | native_name_lang = | birth_name =  | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1965|08|29}} | birth_place = Helsinki | baptised =  | death_date =  | death_place = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates =  | education = University of Helsinki | alma_mater = | known_for = | notable_works = | style = | movement = | spouse = | partner = | children = | parents = | father = | mother = | relatives = | family = | awards =  | elected = | patrons = | memorials = | website = http://www.marjahelander.com/ | module = }} '''Marja Helander''' (born 29 August 1965)<ref name="Helander-CV">{{Cite web | author = | title = Marja Helander - Curriculum vitae | url = http://www.marjahelander.com/bio-2/ | access-date = August 25, 2018}}</ref> is a Finnish urban Sámi photographer, artist and filmmaker.<ref name="larsen">{{Cite web |author=Larsen |first=Dan Robert |date=28 September 2015 |title=Filmfestival i Toronto setter internasjonalt søkelys på samisk film |trans-title=Film festival in Toronto puts an international spotlight on Sami film |url=https://www.nrk.no/sapmi/filmfestival-i-toronto-setter-internasjonalt-sokelys-pa-samisk-film-1.12576426 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028191447/https://www.nrk.no/sapmi/filmfestival-i-toronto-setter-internasjonalt-sokelys-pa-samisk-film-1.12576426 |archive-date=28 October 2021 |access-date=August 25, 2018 |website=NRK |publisher= |language=no}}</ref>

==Early life== Marja Helander was born in Helsinki, Finland, where she still works and lives.<ref name="dala2014">{{Cite book |author= |title=Saamelaista nykytaidetta = Dálá Sámi dáidda = Sámi contemporary |publisher=Rovaniemi Art Museum |year=2014 |isbn=978-952-9554-49-2 |editor-last=Hautala-Hirvioja |editor-first=Tuija |location=Rovaniemi |page=26 |language=fi, se, en |chapter=Marja Helander |oclc=1369708279 |editor-last2=Kuusikko |editor-first2=Riitta |editor-last3=Lundström |editor-first3=Jan-Erik}}</ref> Helander's mother is Finnish and her father is a Sámi from Utsjoki.<ref name="agon">{{Cite journal |author=Ahvenjärvi |first=Kaisa |last2=Valkonen |first2=Sanna |year=2014 |title=Avaran maiseman kuvaajat – Haastattelussa Outi Pieski ja Marja Helander |trans-title=Photographers of the open landscape - Outi Pieski and Marja Helander in an interview |url=http://agon.fi/article/avaran-maiseman-kuvaajat-haastattelussa-outi-pieski-ja-marja-helander/ |url-status=dead |journal=Agon Rovaniemi Verkkojulkaisu |language=fi |location=Rovaniemi |publisher=Agon: pohjoinen tiede- ja kulttuurilehti |volume=43 |issue=3 |issn=1799-1900 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331225320/http://agon.fi/article/avaran-maiseman-kuvaajat-haastattelussa-outi-pieski-ja-marja-helander/ |archive-date=31 March 2023 |access-date=25 August 2018}}</ref> Even though Helander grew up in Helsinki, she spent her vacations with her father's family in Utsjoki.{{Citation needed|date=November 2025}}

==Education== From 1985-1986, Helander studied at the University of Helsinki. In 1986, she started studying painting at the Liminka Art College. In 1988, she graduated from the Liminka Art School and started studying visual arts at the Lahti Institute of Fine Arts, from which she graduated in 1992. After that she started to study photography at the University of Art and Design in Helsinki, Finland, graduating in 1999.<ref name="Helander-CV"/> Since Helander learned Finnish and not Sámi at home, she moved at some point to Inari to study the Sámi language and culture at the Sámi Education Institute ({{langx|se|Sámi oahpahusguovddáš}}).<ref name="agon"/> <!-- In her works, Helander usually showcases encounters between the Finnish and Sámi cultures and the search for her own identity.<ref name="lehtola1997">{{Cite book | author = Lehtola, Veli-Pekka | title = Saamelaiset: Historia, Yhteiskunta, Taide | year = 1997 | chapter = Duodji – käytännön taide | page = 121 | location = Inari | publisher = Kustannus-Puntsi | isbn = 951-97541-2-1| language = fi}}</ref> For example, in her final piece, ''Sukupolvet'', for the Lahti Institute of Fine Arts she su loahppabarggus jagi 1992 Lahti dáiddainstituhtas Helander guorahalai ja suokkardii iežas sámeidentitehta dán perspektiivvas ahte son lea helssetlaš sápmelaš.<ref name="dala2014"/><ref name="lehtola2012">{{Cite book | author = Lehtola, Veli-Pekka | title = Saamelaiset suomalaiset : kohtaamisia 1896–1953 | year = 2012 | chapter = Johdanto | page = 21 | location = Helsset | publisher = Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura | isbn = 978-952-222-331-9 |www=https://www.veli-pekkalehtola.fi/UserFiles/files/saamelaiset_suomalaiset_final_screen.pdf |access-date = August 25, 2018 | language = fi}}</ref> Seamma jagi lei su vuosttaš sierra čájáhus Helssega ruovdegeaidnostašuvnnas.

Dan maŋŋel Helander lea duddjogoahtán čullosiid ja installašuvnnaid ja geavahišgoahtán ee. bohccočoarvvi eahpeárbevirolaččat. Son lea govven sápmelaččaid gaskavuođa ruvkeindustriijai ee. ''Silence – Jaskes eatnamat'' -prošeavtta govaiguin ja videoiguin.<ref name="yle-3-7699144">{{Cite web|url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-7699144|title=Marja Helander: Myös saamelaiset ovat mukana luomassa tarvetta uusille kaivoksille|publisher=Yle Uutiset|access-date=03.10.2017|language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|author = Lundström, Jan-Erik |url=http://samidaiddaguovddas.no/en/marja-helander/|title=Silence – Jaskes eatnamat |publisher=Sámi Dáiddaguovddáš|access-date=August 25, 2018}}</ref> Oanehisfilmmaiguin fas Helander lea buktán oaiviliiddis Sámi oamastangaskavuođaid ja -rivttiid hárrái.<ref name="yle-9761450">{{Cite web|author= Torikka, Xia | url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/sapmi/helanderis_oa_oanehisfilbma__faddan_sameeatnama_oamastanrievttit/9761450|title=Helanderis ođđa oanehisfilbma – Fáddán Sámeeatnama oamastanrievttit|access-date=August 26, 2018|date=08.08.2017 6:30, updated 08.08.2017 11:03 |publisher=Yle Sápmi| language=se}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-9761724|title=Saamelaistaiteilijan uusi lyhytelokuva ottaa kantaa Saamenmaan omistussuhteisiin|publisher=Yle Uutiset|access-date=03.10.2017|language=fi}}</ref> Jagi 2016 Helander guovttos Outi Pieskiin cuiggodeigga dáládáidága musea Kiasma Jenni Hiltunena videodáiddafilmma oastimis musea čoakkáldagaide danin go filmmas nissonat dánsot ja jorahit bađaset albmáid fákegávttit badjelis.<ref name="yle-8868606">{{Cite web|author= Paltto, Anni-Saara and Näkkäläjärvi, Pirita |url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/sapmi/kiasma-musea_cuiggoduvvo_fakegaktevideo_oastimis/8868606|title=Kiasma-musea cuiggoduvvo fakegáktevideo oastimis|access-date=August 26, 2018|date=10.05.2016 6:47, updated 10.09.2016 19:07 |publisher=Yle Sápmi| language=se}}</ref> Seamma jagi Helander, Pieski ja Pauliina Feodoroff gáibidedje Nordea-báŋkku geassádit ruhtadeamis Dakota Access Pipeline -oljobohcci<ref name="yle-9330612">{{Cite web|author= Alajärvi, Martta |url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/sapmi/feodoroff_pieski_ja_helander_nordea-bakku_ovddabealde_nordea_heaitte_duolbmamis_olmmosvuoigatvuoaid/9330612|title=Feodoroff, Pieski ja Helander Nordea-báŋkku ovddabealde: “Nordea, heaitte duolbmamis olmmošvuoigatvuođaid”|access-date=August 26, 2018|date=02.12.2016 13:03, updated 07.08.2017 16:36 |publisher=Yle Sápmi| language=se}}</ref><ref name="yle-3-9332144">{{Cite web|author= Alajärvi, Martta |url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-9332144|title=Alkuperäiskansa-aktivistit vaativat Nordeaa vetäytymään kytköksistään kiisteltyyn öljyputkeen|publisher=Yle Uutiset|date=02.12.2016 20:45, updated 08.08.2017 10:55|access-date=August 26, 2018|language=fi}}</ref> mii huksejuvvui miellačájáhusaid fuolakeahttá dattetge Standing Rock Sioux -reserváhtii Davvi-Dakotas USA:s eamiálbmogiid alkuperäiskansojen maille yhdysvaltojen Dakotaan rakennettavan öljyputken rahoituksesta.<ref name="yle-9448106">{{Cite web|author= Tammela, Linda |url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/sapmi/dakota_oljobohcci_huksejuvvo_dattetge/9448106|title=Dakota oljobohcci huksejuvvo dattetge |access-date=August 26, 2018|date=08.02.2017 10:25, updated 25.10.2017 14:05 |publisher=Yle Sápmi| language=se}}</ref>

Stáhta visuálalaš dáidagiid doaibmagoddi juolludii Helanderii viđa jagi dáiddárveahkkeruđa jagi 2015.<ref name="yle-8111842">{{Cite web|author=Suoninen, Inger-Elle|url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/sapmi/marja_helanderii_via_jahkai_veahkkeruhta/8111842|title=Marja Helanderii viđa jáhkái veahkkeruhta|date=29.06.2015 10:59, updated 29.06.2015 11:17|publisher=Yle Sápmi|access-date=August 26, 2018| language=se}}</ref>

In 2018, Helander won an award for Best Experimental Storytelling at the ImagineNATVE Film + Media Festival in Toronto, Canada, for her short film ''Eatnanvuloš lottit'' (''Birds in the Earth''). The film captures two young ballerinas as they glide through the Sámi and Finnish landscape and eventually arrive at the steps of the Parliament in Helsinki, Finland.<ref> Nielsen, Kristine. “[https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09528822.2022.2074198 Disobedience in Sámi Artist Marja Helander's Film ''Birds in the Earth''.]” ''Third Text'' 177, Vol. 36, no. 4 (2022): 295-310. https://doi.org/10.1080/09528822.2022.2074198 </ref> --> ==Awards== * 1994 – Fotofinlandia finalist * 2018 - ImagineNATVE Film + Media Festival, Best Experimental Storytelling for ''Birds in the Earth'' * 2018 – Risto Jarva Award for ''Birds in the Earth''<ref name="av-arkki">{{Cite web |date=11 June 2018 |title=Meet the artist: Marja Helander |url=http://www.av-arkki.fi/en/news/artist-helander/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203005140/https://www.av-arkki.fi/news/artist-helander/ |archive-date=3 December 2023 |access-date=25 August 2018 |website=AV-Arkki |publisher=}}</ref><ref name="yle-3-10111624">{{Cite web |author=Kiviranta |first=Varpu |date=11 March 2018 |title=Risto Jarva -palkinto saamelaiselokuvalle Maan sisällä linnut |trans-title=The Risto Jarva award for the Sámi film The Birds in the Land |url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-10111624 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014061610/https://yle.fi/a/3-10111624 |archive-date=14 October 2023 |access-date=25 August 2018 |website=Yle Uutiset |publisher= |language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Marja Helander |url=https://iffr.com/en/persons/marja-helander |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221202135536/https://iffr.com/en/persons/marja-helander |archive-date=2 December 2022 |access-date=20 May 2024 |website=International Film Festival Rotterdam}}</ref>

==External links== * [http://viidonsieiddit.fi/tyoryhma/marja-helander/ Information about Helander on the Viidon sieiddit workgroup website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180901005410/http://viidonsieiddit.fi/tyoryhma/marja-helander/ |date=2018-09-01 }}

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Helander, Marja}} Category:1965 births Category:Living people Category:Sámi film directors Category:Sámi artists Category:20th-century Finnish women artists Category:Finnish photographers Category:Finnish film directors Category:University of Helsinki alumni Category:21st-century Finnish women photographers Category:Finnish women film directors Category:Finnish Sámi people Category:Sámi women