Äimärautio is a community that revolves around a deep passion and commitment to horses – it is a lifestyle. In portraits, details and milieus, photographed in Oulu, Finland, Kati Leinonen examines the relationship between horses and humans.

Äimärautio is a place for encounters between humans and horses. At their best, these encounters can be miraculous and fundamental, providing a chance for momentary connections where the animal is present with its whole being. From a human point of view, this connection requires constant self-observation and awareness of one’s behavior in relation to an animal whose mind is dominated by the instinct to escape. On the other hand, the attempt to connect opens up a creative and intuitive mindset.

The works of the exhibition tell about everyday encounters at the stables and their surroundings, often invisible to the general public. The portraits show the variety of horse enthusiasts, encompassing the atmosphere and way of life in the community. The details, in turn, tell about today's horse cultur with its affection and caring, but also the humanization of animals. The milieu of Äimärautio acts as a stage that binds the photographs together.

Kati Leinonen (b. 1974) is a photographic artist living in Oulu. She has studied photography at London College of Printing and audiovisual media culture at University of Lapland, Finland.

The exhibition has been selected in the annual open call for exhibitions at Project Space. The Finnish Museum of Photography's Project Space is intended for exhibitions and projects that use photography or other lens-based media as tools for art or research. The space shows stimulating exhibitions by both fresh talents and more established artists.