Vertti Virasjoki
Vertti Virasjoki (he/him) is a designer-photographer-artist who explores and substantiates social and societal phenomena through the lens of camera, artistic and designerly approaches. As a creative Vertti’s passion lies in contributing of making society a more fair place for everybody; that tiny bit one can and prefers to do while collaborating with others.
Dear Hockey
Master of Arts Thesis project, 2021-2023Aalto University School of Art, Design and Architecture
Exhibited at Artefakti 2023, a Contemporary Design programme Graduation Show, during Helsinki Design Week
An artistic exploration that combines photogrpahic works and written essays, delving into the author’s personal journey and experiences within the world of ice hockey.
The master thesis Dear Hockey: Ponderings on Masculinity in Ice Hockey Culture is an artistic research and exploration that combines photographic works and written essays, delving into personal journeys and experiences within the world of ice hockey, examining the production of gender, challenging societal notions of masculinity, and seeking to initiate discussions on inclusivity and diversity within the hockey community. Topics such as violence, succession and corporality are being explored, both through the self-portraiture photographs alongside the essays. Beyond personal introspection, the project strives to shed light on the construction of masculine identity within the context of ice hockey while also noting its effect on society on a larger scale as well.
Soil Laboratory
Photography project, 2023-2025Upcoming exhibition at Galleria Kellokas
Soil Laboratory is a collection of photographs from the Utsjoki area, where I was documenting Maarit Mäkelä's—Professor in Department of Design, Aalto University— ceramic project as part of her project Soil Laboratory (2023-2024). During the stay in Utsjoki I also worked on my own photographic artistic expression, which will be part of the upcoming exhibition Soil Laboratory: Exploring a dialog between human and land alongside the documentary work I did on Maarit Mäkelä’s and Mira Niittymäki’s ceramic fieldwork. The exhibition will take place in Galleria Kellokas, Äkäslompolo, starting January 2026 until March 2026.
Caracara collective
Publication + internship, 2020Growing Forms is a booklet of mycelium based art and design, which I designed during a photobook design and production course of my Photography studies at Aalto University. The images were taken during my internship with experimental design studio Caracara Collective. In the booklet I open the process of a hands on installation project called Tatit, that was showcased during the Helsinki Design Week 2020 in the main venue, Helsinki Olympic Stadium.