Harri Laakso

Harri Laakso

Professori (Associate professor)
Professori (Associate professor)
A806 Department of Art and Media

Dr. Harri Laakso is Associate Professor of Photography Research and the Head of the Department of Art and Media. Laakso is an artist researcher and curator interested in photographic images and theory, artistic research and images’ relations to words and performative actions.

He holds a BFA in Film, Photography and Visual Arts from Ithaca College, New York (1991), MA in photography from University of Art and Design Helsinki (1996), Graduate Certificate in Art History, Theory and Criticism from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (1999). He received his doctoral degree from the University of Art and Design Helsinki (2003).

He has led, and participated in, many artistic and research projects (e.g. PI in “Figures of Touch” 2009–2012, Senior researcher in “Floating Peripheries. Floating Peripheries – Mediating the sense of place” 2017-2021) curated and co-curated exhibitions (e.g. Backlight Photography Triennials 2002–2008; “Grey Matters” in Finnish Museum of Photography 2007; “Falling Trees” in Finnish and Nordic pavilions at the 55th Venice Biennale in 2013).

Laakso has been Chair of the Board for Public Display Grants to Visual Artists, Arts Promotion Center Finland (2018-2020), Chair of the Subcommittee for Photographic Art, in the National Council for Visual Arts, Arts Promotion Centre Finland (2015-2016), and Chair of the National Council for Photographic Art in Finland (2013-2014).

Laakso has published many texts related to photography and contemporary art in academic contexts as well as in artists’ books. He has been member (since 2014) and is presently the Chair of the Editorial Board of RUUKKU Journal of Artistic Research. Laakso is member of the Academic Board of The Artistic Research Doctoral School of Aalto (AREA).

Laakso’s current teaching (MA and DA) includes Photography theory, Contemporary photography history (as part of “Thinking practices”), and Artistic research. He is supervisor and advisor of 14 completed doctoral students in the fields of photography, contemporary art, and visual culture. He is co-chair of the Art of Research Conference 2023 and chair of the organizing group of the Helsinki Photomedia Conference 2024.

Full researcher profile
https://research.aalto.fi/...
Sähköposti
[email protected]
Puhelinnumero
+358503090654

Palkinnot

Aalto University Annual Excellence Award in Teaching

The president of Aalto University together with university’s top management has decided to award the annual Excellence recognition based on the proposals of the Schools. With this recognition we want to highlight achievements with significant impact in enhancing learning, transdisciplinarity and well-being at Aalto (Excellence in Teaching). The award is for University-Wide Art Studies (UWAS) which began with a single course, and then piloted 15 courses on artistic thinking and creative skills for all Aalto students, in every school and discipline, that fostered a lasting interest in, and significant impact on transdisciplinary education.<br/>
Award or honor granted for a specific work Department of Art Dec 2017

Julkaisut

Art of Research 2023

Harri Laakso, Sofia Pantouvaki, Julia Valle-Noronha, Karin Krokfors, Susanna Helke, Priska Falin 2023

Photographic Parafictions (An Aside)

Harri Laakso 2023 Figurations of Peripheries through Arts and Visual Studies

Reposaari - mission impossible

Pia Euro, Taina Rajanti, Harri Laakso, Max Ryynänen 2022 Visual artist’s workbook : essays and exercises on teaching arts

The Tail of a Comet

Harri Laakso 2022 Where do images come from?

Nomadic Science Fiction: Experiencing Diversity and Alterity Through Urbanising Mongolia

Annu Wilenius, Saara Hacklin, Harri Laakso, Taina Rajanti, Pauline von Bonsdorff 2022

Art of Research VII

Harri Laakso, Sofia Pantouvaki, Julia Valle Noronha 2021 Research in Arts and Education

Photography is a Trojan Horse

Harri Laakso 2020 Analog Magazine

Don't Look Now

Harri Laakso 2019