Exhibition opening on Tuesday Feb 22, 5-7 PM. Warm welcome!

Terveet Kädet are a Finnish hard core punk band, one of the best known Finnish bands around the world. The band released their first EP in the autumn 1980 and the band gained a cult following as a brutal and uncompromising hardcore pioneer from Lapland.

Photographer and journalist Heikki Kemppainen followed and photographed the band's first years closely as he also lived in Tornio, where Terveet Kädet is from. Kemppinen was interested in punk and Terveet Kädet was the only punk band in his town. He was there in autumn 1980 when the band payed their first gig in Tornio in a band competition called Kevyen Musiikin Katselmus - Popular Music Review. Terveet Kädet left a deep impression in Kemppainen's mind even though the band came last in the competition itself.

Kamppainen began photographing the band with his film camera, which he purchased in the summer of 1980. Terveet kädet and Kemppainen worked even more closely in 1981 when the band's singer Läjä asked Kamppainen to take the cover photos for their second EP. Kemppainen had his camera with him at the gigs, clubs and parties. He was also present at the studio in Oulu and photographed Läjä at home. A shot of Läjä at home with his brother Stooge was published on the cover of Finnish music magazine Rumba in 1984.
‍

The exhibition at Laterna Magica is a collection of Kemppainen's black and white photography from 1980-1984. He was between the ages of 16 to 19 at the time. The photographs have not been cropped or altered afterwards. The origingal negatives were used for the prints.

-Film was expensive and one had to really think about the framing and composition, Kemppainen describes the era before digital cameras.

The photographs visualize the Cold War era and Kekkonen's era (Urho Kekkonen was the president of Finland 1956-1982) where Terveet Kädet grew up in the early 1980's. They also show the dreary and sloshy side of Lapland. The exhibition is curated by Kalle Pajamaa, Greger Grönholm and Pekka Elomaa.

Terveet Kädet 1980-1984

Läjä, vocals

Timo Viik, guitar

Piäsky, bass guitar

Peedro, Walde, Tilli, drums

‍

Curators: Kalle Pajamaa (Pertin Valinta), Greger Grönholm, Pekka Elomaa

Editing: Pekka Elomaa

Prints: Tuomo-Juhani Vuorenmaa

The exhibition is supported by Journalistisen kulttuurin edistämissäätiö Jokes and Taiteen edistämiskeskus Taike and Laterna Magica

‍