Working across fashion, advertising and advertorial, a collection of stunning work is on display in a new exhibition
Known as ‘the Grand Old Lady of Finnish Photography’, the exciting work of Claire Aho came at a time when colour photography was not considered worthy of serious artwork.
With a keen eye for composition, plus a bold and innovative use of colour techniques previously not used, Aho’s work remains as vibrant and fresh today as it was when it was first published in the 1950s and 60s.
Aho began her career as a documentary filmmaker, before starting her own studio in the 1950s – a formative period in Finnish design. After a remark from her father (Heikki Aho, himself a photographer) that colour photography in Finland was of poor photography, Claire set out to put things right.
The result is these beautifully saturated images which reflect the liveliness of Helsinki’s post-war cultural scene. In her native country, she became one of the most prominent photographers of her time, while she was also displayed in exhibitions around the world.
In 1952, Aho was the only woman on site to film the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki. Her use of colour meant that the flags of the world were brought to life, especially including the newly official blue-and-white cross of Finland itself.
Her work from the Olympics is what led to a job at Pathé News in New York. At the time, she was the only woman among 400 men to report from Finland.
Aho would also go on to have an illustrious career in advertising and commercial work. It’s perhaps these which shine most brightly among this competition, with a boldness that remains popular today.
In the 1970s, Aho moved to Sweden where she lived and worked until her death in 2015.
A new exhibition of her work takes place at Hundred Heroines, the UK’s only museum solely dedicated to women in photography. The show will run until 31 May.
Founder and curator Del Barrett said, “There is so much bad news around at the moment, we wanted to show something cheeful. In the same way that Claire used colour and a modern style to project confidence and optimism about the future, we hope this exhibition leaves visitors feeling uplifted, energised and more hopeful about what lies ahead.”
The show is spread across two sites – one at the Photo Museum itself, and another The Art Garden, both in Stroud. More information, including opening times can be found on the Hundred Heroines website.
Further reading:
- Meet SheClicks: a women-only photography group with over 15,000 members!
- ‘As a woman you must be resilient and persistent’ – the remarkable story of portrait photographer Jillian Edelstein
- ‘My active resistance was to make women my subject matter’ – photographer Hannah Starkey on redefining outdated representations
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