Unusual self-portraits of Arno Minkkinen

Over the past forty years, a sense of inner freedom has allowed Arno Raphael Minkkinen to photograph himself in a variety of ways: sometimes curled up on a sandy beach, sometimes hanging from the edge of a cliff, but always naked, as he was at birth. His landscapes are constantly changing, but Minkkinen always becomes part of them, extravagantly combining body and nature.

We present you some of the master's outstanding works, and those who wish to see original photographs are invited to the Lumiere Brothers Moscow Center for Photography, where an exhibition of the photographer opens on March 26.

(Total 15 photos)

1. Self-portrait, 1970

Arno Rafael Minkkinen was born in Finland, moved to the United States as a child, and now lives and works in Andover, Massachusetts. Constantly participates in exhibitions, received many awards. Since 1988, the photographer has been an art professor at the University of Massachusetts.

2. Rhode Island, 1973

3. For the past forty years, Minkkinen has been teaching, curating and writing, continuing to devote his photographic powers to creating exclusively self-portraits: raw images of the human figure in natural and urban environments. Finland, Norway and Sweden, France, Italy, China and the American West are his favorite places to "hunt" for shots.

4. Finland, 1973

5. New Jersey, USA, 1977

6. Self-portrait with Daniel, Massachusetts, USA, 1987

For Arno Raphael Minkkinen, nudity is akin to spirituality. “I don’t want to be perceived as a nudist,” he says. “But there's something about the approximation of the creation process when you walk alone in the forest in Finland, without clothes, looking for a good shot, climbing rocks and moving around like a monkey. Absolutely naked, pressing your toes into the soft earth, you feel how you were created.

7. Fosters Pond Reserve, 1989

8. Vaisalansaari, Finland, 1998

9. White Sands, New Mexico, 2000

From the photographer's interview:

When did you get serious about self-portraits?

“I sent the photos to the Rhode Island School of Design and the answer came back that Harry Callahan wanted to talk to me. He asked me, "Why do you want to come here?" and I said, "I want to continue my work." “Great reason,” he said, and two weeks later I was at the Rhode Island School of Design. My life has changed. Now, 30 years later, I continue to do the same.

10. Self-portrait with Christina, Val d'Orcia, Tuscany, Italy, 2008

11. Why are you always naked?

— Arno Minkkinen: If I had even one piece of clothing on, it would be a fashion photograph. There would be a story about a shirt, tie, jacket or shoes. … And nudity immediately connects me with nature. Associates with the exposure of water, trees, stones. And the sky. It's just normal and natural. It's also always me, because I don't want to ask anyone to strip in the cold or hang off a cliff... You have to be naked in any weather in any conditions.

12. Norway, 2008

Why don't you change direction? Why did you commit yourself to this project?

“I always thought of it as a puzzle, a mosaic. I have already assembled a part, but many pieces are still on the table. The work that I can do during my life is not unlimited. About ten years ago I wanted to do something completely different, I thought it would be a problem that would be difficult and interesting to deal with. But I soon realized that the biggest problem is to solve my problem all my life, to try to put together a mosaic, to see how big it is. How many pieces are left?

13. Oulunjärvi at noon, Paltaniemi, Finland, 2009

14. Eighteen stones, Dali, China, 2010

15. Baznikas, Puutarha, Latvia, 2011