The Nordic Photography Network is launching the Bicentennial of Photography campaign to celebrate the 200th anniversary of photography in 2026. The anniversary year will be celebrated throughout the year in collaboration with an extensive network of national and international partners.
The Bicentennial of Photography campaign brings together exhibitions, events, discussions, and other content highlighting the historical, artistic, and societal significance of photography. Photo North’s first event of the year will be a screening of photographer Elina Bry’s “Is the Earth Chronically Ill?” at Kulttuuritalo Valve on 14 February 2026 at 5:00 pm. Following the screening, a discussion will take place at Café Paljetti focusing on the ongoing residency period with photographers Elina Bry and Jaakko Myyri, as part of the event Talking About the Image: Adaptation, starting at 6:00 pm.
The history of photography dates back to the late 18th century, when scientists sought to capture the image produced by the camera obscura. The decisive breakthrough occurred in 1826, when French inventor Nicéphore Niépce succeeded in producing a permanent photograph using the heliography process on an asphalt-coated surface. This moment is considered the birth of photography.
In Finland, the history of photography began in 1842, when district physician Henrik Cajander photographed the Nobel House in Turku in November. This marked the beginning of Finnish photography, which has since developed into an integral part of the national cultural heritage and the international field of visual art.
The Bicentennial of Photography anniversary year invites audiences, artists, and professionals to explore photography as a document of the past, a form of expression in the present, and a tool for the future. The Nordic Photography Network is coordinated by Photo North – the Northern Photographic Centre and includes photography organizations from Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Lithuania.
Further information:
Taija Jyrkäs
Producer, Photo North – Northern Photographic Centre
+358 40 128 1150
