Posters Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion

Inspired by the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion, Paasikivi-Opisto, a comprehensive community college and vocational school offering basic courses on media and communications in Turku, Finland, organized a poster competition for its students. The competition attracted eighteen entries: these posters with a message were displayed at Turku City Library in April 2010.

The year 2010 was declared The European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion. In honour of the European Year, the Visual Arts Section of Paasikivi-Opisto organized a poster competition to focus students' attention on social problems in the world and to inspire visual artists to reflect on these issues in their own work. As a starting point, there was an idea of art born out of reflections on phenomena of our time. Is it possible for visual artists in their work to raise more awareness of the condition of society by focusing on new issues or by providing new interpretations of what is going on in the world.

It is important that visual artists point out problems concerning the welfare society and the social exclusion. Critical observations about one's own social environment make artists engage in social changes.

Each member of the jury picked up what he or she found to be the five best posters. The winner was Pau Norontaus with "Faceless (Number 11), 2nd Prize went to Joni Tuominen with "Alone & Isolated" (Number 6) and 3rd Prize to Henna Mannila with "Is This Your Heaven" (Number 3).

The members of the jury were Milla Järvipetäjä (Flux Aura Project Manager), Jani Kaunisto (Artist and Graphic Designer of the newspaper Turun Sanomat) and Satu Pyhälä (Librarian, Turku City Library).