VESA LOIKAS

I am a fine art photographer & film maker based in Turku, Finland. 

September 2024
DANCE FILM SERIES, screening of 5 dance films

Film Day: Turku - European Film City

Turku, Finland

February 2024
ICE HOT NORDIC DANCE PLATFORM OSLO

More More More Entanglement installation pitch

February 15, 2024 Vega Scene, Oslo, Norway

September 2023
FOUR DANCE FILMS
Manilla Culture Factory Festival

Vesa Loikas ja Maria Nurmela: Tanssielokuvien sarja
September 13-23.9.2023 Manilla, Turku, Finland

May 2023 ECHOES dance film
featured in DANCESCAPES – spinning worlds / TAMPERE DANCE CURRENT festival, Arthouse Cinema Niagara, Tampere, Finland

September 2022 Porin Juhlaviikot AR-installations with video & sound Galleria 3h+k, Pori, Finland - Exhibition as a member of FAINOMENON collective

FAINOMENON Augmented Reality installation - Porin Juhlaviikot, September 2022

March 2022 Art Exhibition for Charity
Five Turku-based artists' organizations (me being a member of Photographic Centre Peri) had a three-day art sales exhibition in Turku, Finland. All proceeds (700€ on my part) were donated in full to the following aid organizations: Doctors Without Borders, UN Women and Finnish Red Cross.

March 2022 ECHOES dance film
The film was nominated for prestigious PRIX LUMIÈRE The screening and gala event took place in
Musée d’art de Rouyn-Noranda, Canada March 10th during CINÉDANSE ROUYN-NORANDA 2022

October 2021 ASKEL photograph
An underground permanent collection was opened. My piece ASKEL was one of the selected works for this collection commissioned and maintained by Turku Technology Properties.
See map of the collection (No 37), open year around during the week.

ASKEL featuring Leyya Mona Tawil

April 2021 CROSS-LATERAL dance film
MASH JERUSALEM 2021 international video dance series.

CROSS-LATERAL dance film 

 
 

January 2021 LIMINAL dance film 

OFFICIAL SELECTION
VideoDance Festival Brazil

December 2020 LIMINAL dance film 

OFFICIAL SELECTION 
Moving Images videodance festival Nicosia, Kypros

October 2020 E C H O E S dance film 

OFFICIAL SELECTION
CINEDANZA FESTIVAL Modena, Italy

PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITIONS | VALOKUVANÄYTTELYT:

RESCHEDULED FOR 2023 due to Coronavirus

Joki Centre, Turku, Finland 
Solo exhibition and film premiere.
Opening event by invitation only - contact me for details!

SEPTEMBER 2018
INTERACTIONS | VUOROVAIKUTUKSIA

Nomad Cellars, Annankatu 22, Helsinki, Finland 
Solo exhibition, nine large scale photographic works on canvas.
SEE opening night video (in Finnish) VIDEO-LINK

INTERACTIONS SOLO EXHIBITION STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY - Ruoholahti, Helsinki, Finland dancer: Kristiina Turtiainen 130 x 70 cm

INTERACTIONS SOLO EXHIBITION
STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY - Ruoholahti, Helsinki, Finland
dancer: Kristiina Turtiainen 130 x 70 cm

2018
SHIFT ARTIST - TAIKO.FI

Kakola, Turku, Finland 
ART-WALL featured my dance related photographic works on aluminum.

2017
NIGHT OF THE ARTS GALLERY

Hansakortteli, Turku, Finland 
This group exhibit featured sixteen of my Turku related photographic works.

TAIKO.FI founder Pia Edman in the gallery in Hansakortteli Turku, Finland - August 8th, 2017

TAIKO.FI founder Pia Edman in the gallery in Hansakortteli Turku, Finland - August 8th, 2017

2015
SOUTH WEST COLLECTION
Galleria Pirkko-Liisa Topelius

Hietalahdenranta 17, Helsinki, Finland 
This group exhibition was a collection from artists currently working in the southwest region of Finland.

GALLERIA PIRKKO-LIISA TOPELIUS exhibit - Helsinki, 2015 - photo: Alina Loikas

 
LIVE IN NYC
Atelje Sari Aaltonen 2015

SOLO EXHIBIT| Kauppiaskatu 1, Turku, Finland
Showcases seven of my large scale LIVE IN NYC aluminum prints as well as TURKU landscape triptych.


2014
A MOMENT FOR DANCE
HETKI TANSSILLE

Culture Centre Stoa| Itäkeskus, Helsinki, Finland|stoa.fi

This group exhibition displayed the winners and top-ranking contestants of the 2014 national Dance Photo Competition, arranged by Liikekieli.com, an online dance journal - My entry 'FREEDOM' was selected for the exhibit | Vuoden 2014 TANSSIKUVA kilpailun parhaimmistoa esittelevä ryhmänäyttely - teokseni 'VAPAUS' valittiin kilpailun parhaimmistoon

2014
SOUTH WEST COLLECTION
propeller.gallery 

GROUP EXHIBIT|Taalintehdas, Turku, Finland|propeller.gallery

This wonderful new gallery in picturesque coastal town by the Baltic Sea displays five of my works as well as my LIVE IN NYC book.

TUNNEL VISIONS | INTERACTIONS EXHIBITION | Nomad Cellars, Helsinki, Finland 2018 Dancers: Daniel Persson & Vincent Malmberg - King's Cross Station pedestrian tunnel, London, UK. First edition (out of 10)1.9 x 1.9 meters

TUNNEL VISIONS | INTERACTIONS EXHIBITION | Nomad Cellars, Helsinki, Finland 2018
Dancers: Daniel Persson & Vincent Malmberg - King's Cross Station pedestrian tunnel, London, UK. First edition (out of 10)1.9 x 1.9 meters

2014
TITANIK GALLERY - Super Public Art School

GROUP EXHIBIT|TITANIK Gallery| Itäinen Rantakatu 8, Turku, Finland|www.titanik.fi
This multimedia event & exhibition displayed Dance related art in different forms - Four of my works were showcased in the historic river front gallery.

TITANIK Gallery 2014 - Closing Party

2014
IMPROVISATIONS ON ALUMINUM - LIVE IN NYC
IMPROVISAATIOITA ALUMIINILLA - ELÄVÄNÄ NYKISSÄ

SOLO EXHIBIT|Old Townhall Gallery| Old Town Square, Turku, Finland|www.turku.fi/vanhasuurtori
This solo exhibit included 22 of my large scale works on brushed aluminum.

The Old Town Hall Gallery 2014 - Opening Night

2013
WINTER IMAGES

SOLO EXHIBIT|Le Cakery Cafe Gallery|Elm Grove, Wisconsin, USA

2012
Food ART

Food For Four Gallery| Forum, Turku, Finland | Group Exhibit
 

HONORS | ANSIOITA:

  • 2014 Selected to be a part of the BEST DANCE PHOTOGRAPHY in Finland exhibit | valokuvani valittiin vuoden 2014 TANSSIKUVA kilpailun parhaimmistoon (www.liikekieli.com)

  • 2013 – Artist residence in New York City as a photographer | taiteilijaresidenssi New York, valokuvaaja - Varsinais-Suomen taidetoimikunnan ja Läntisen Tanssin aluekeskuksen myöntämä

  • 2006 Lapland in winter photography competition, 3rd prize | Lappi talvella valokuvakilpailu, 3. palkinto

  • 2005 Summer in Helsinki photography competition, 3rd prize | Kesä Helsinki valokuvakilpailu, 3. palkinto

  • 2000 St. Paul Prize Design Competition, Minnesota, USA, 2nd prize

  • 1999 Sukkot Project, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, USA, 1st prize

  • 1995 The David R. Williams Student Award for Excellence in Architectural Design - award annually given to the best architectural thesis at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, USA 

BOOKS & PUBLICATIONS  |  JULKAISUJA:

EDUCATION | KOULUTUS:

  • Bachelor of Architecture 1995 University of Louisiana at Lafayette, USA

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

  • Vesa Loikas Photography & Design, Turku, Finland since 2002

  • Architecture Office Sigge Ltd., Turku, Finland since 2001

  • Architecture Office Bentz/Thompson/Rietow Inc. , Minneapolis, USA 1995-2001

LIVE IN NYC exhibit - 2014

TITANIK Gallery Exhibit Poster 2014

HOW I GOT STARTED

My sister Mirja was a big influence on my photography. When I was thirteen years old, she handed me her 35mm camera and said to finish the roll. I hadn't photographed before, because it was so expensive during the film era. I did as she instructed, and immediately felt like this is very creative and magical. After that I started photographing on my own and eventually purchased my own camera. I continued to photograph , mostly documenting my travels and events while living abroad. Fast forward almost 30 years, and I started taking my photography more seriously. At that time I understood the value it provided me. I could really express myself as an artist with the camera. I continue to educate myself and to exhibit my photography while pursuing a variety of projects as I see it as an integral part of my being.