« A lake is the landscape’s most beautiful and expressive feature. It is earth’s eye ; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature. » – Henry David Thoreau, 1854.

Suomi, the Finnish-language country name apparently derives from the word suo (swamp) or suomu (fish scale).

Finland has more bodies of water than any other country in the world.  Almost a tenth of the country area is covered with water, about 200 000 lakes. Mires cover 30% of the Finnish land area. Lakes, ponds, rivers, islands and coastal areas form 315 000 kilometres of unique waterlines. In Finland, water and waterways are an inseparable part of the individual environmental relationship.

The relation between man and water originated in the dawn of time : ancient populations had a thorough knowledge of its properties and established deep relations with it. The sight, sound, touch, and smell of water is believed to have great inspiration and influence in human emotions.

There is something very unique and special about water. Water is the most precious and one of the most threatened resources on earth: environmental, economic, social and management factors are posing at risk this precious resource. The roots of these problems can be traced in the loss of relation between man and water: from being a vital element with a spiritual character, water has become seen as just a commodity over which to make profit.

Water still has many functions in religions and beliefs. For example, there are rituals that try to call forth more water and others that try to stop the rain; there are lakes, rivers and springs that by religious people are regarded as having the power to heal the sick and overcome death – some of them are even regarded as divinities. In most religious traditions, water is basic to physical and spiritual life, symbolizing purification, rebirth, and fertility.

KALEVALA

In Kalevala (the national saga of Finland), Ilmatar, the daughter of the air, got pregnant by the water and wind and carried her son for 30 years. A goldeneye made a nest on Ilmatar´s knee and when the bird hatched her eggs (six of them made of iron, one of pure gold), it burned Ilmatar´s knee and finally she moved her knee and all the eggs flew into the sky and on the earth and were broken. From those pieces the earth and sky, the stars, the sun and the moon were born.

FROM EVIAN TO VANAJA

Having grown up and lived 100 metres from the Vanaja lake instilled a deep love – and fear – of water in me. They say that « lake life is the best life ».  

Just a few months ago, I returned home to Finland after spending almost 25 years living and working in deep water in France. Now I live again about 100 metres from Vanaja lake – the same lake at I grew upon.

The purpose of my photo project is to explore the special role of lakes and the relationship between man and water in Finland – to look for signs and symbols of human presence – communication between humans and nature. What rituals and memories do we have that center around water? Has my own relationship with water changed? Should this relationships be renewed? I used my camera as an excuse to find answers to those questions.

NÄKKI, DO NOT DARE TO TAKE ME !

Näkki is the most well-known water spirit in Finnish mythology. In Finnish folklore Näkki was a terrible evil water demon. They are said to live under bridges that cross rivers, docks, and piers and in murky pools and wells. Back in the old days adults told children not to go to swim too deep otherwise Näkki would catch them. When a drowned person was pulled from the water their body was filled with black dots. These were believed to be finger prints of näkki and proofs that näkki had killed the person.

As my ancestors did to keep Näkki away, I have taken the precaution of reciting a magical spell three times in a row before entering the waterfront : « Näkki to the land, me into the water, do not dare to take me ! ». It has worked up until now…