War is a Disaster, by Henri Airo

Henri Airo critically explores the links between militarism and a collective memory of war in Finland. The book combines photographs made at memorial rituals and museums with historical propaganda images, and vernacular images from family albums.

Finnish artist Henri Airo explores the links between militarism and the collective memory of war in Finland. For those who have not lived through it, historical wars often remain obscure events that challenge and defy the imagination. The book combines Airo’s photographs, taken at memorial rituals and museums, with historical propaganda images from the Finnish Army Image Archive and vernacular photographs selected from his private family albums. Additionally, the work weaves these images together with an array of archival records, including war film pre-production documents, news media clippings, and reports related to Airo’s personal history and his military service.

Visual culture serves as a means of imagining and identifying with past conflicts. A central theme in the work is the relationship between willing conviction and inherited ideals, as well as the moral friction they entail.

The text parts of the book are written by Henri Airo, Ahmed Al-Nawas, Susanna Hast, Noora Kotilainen, Saara Särmä, and Leena Vastapuu.