Food is not just a simple, basic commodity used to satisfy hunger.

This year, the Festival of Political Photography will present images that highlight the political, social and environmental dimensions of food. The environmental effects of the food industry and climate change are interconnected with hunger, migration, and wars. The global impact of food production and consumption on climate change is roughly equal to that of housing or transport. While a large proportion of the world’s population suffers from malnutrition, it is estimated that one third of food produced in the world goes to waste.
While gathering around food, we will discuss the freedom of the individual in relation to society.

Can we make a difference through our own choices, or have the decisions been made before we are offered the opportunity to choose? Tracing the structures and effects related to the production of foodstuffs is often an almost impossible task. The battle over knowledge, its control and distribution is one of the major questions of our time. Ethical questions about food act as links between the individual’s choices and the structures of world politics. Choices are being made in the name of food about how life continues on our planet and the value of some people’s lives over others.

Yet offering food is also an act demonstrating care, hospitality and love. A snack is a political act.

Photographers 

Asunción Molinos Gordo, Filippo Zambon, Freya Najade, Henk Wildschut, Jo-Anne McArthur, Jošt Franko, Kukka Ranta, Laura Cuch, Pablo Ernesto Piovano, Paula Humberg, Tim Franco, to kosie, Yann Mingard, Animalia, Greenpeace, Oikeutta eläimille, food themed YouTube videos  (curated by Jaakko Keso + workgroup)

Kouluyhteistyö: Helsingin kuvataidelukio

Exhibitions

The Finnish Museum of Photography: Post-Food
Stoa Gallery: Spriritual Flavours + Non-Egyptian Restaurant
Virka Gallery: Food waste

Festival programme

- Artist talks. Festival photographers tell about their work.
- Panel discussion: Can photography influence the society? With Photographer Meeri Koutaniemi, Museum director Elina Heikka and photographer Sanni Seppo. Conducted by photography researcher Anna-Kaisa Rastenberger.
- Panel discussion: Can art influence the society? Artists from different disciplines present their visions about the relation of arts and politics. With writer Risto Isomäki, theatre director Susanna Kuparinen and photographer Sanni Seppo among others.