Utu-Tuuli Jussila

call for participants

I am looking for non-binary* participants for portrait photoshoots and research interviews

Published 5.9.2022

(update 18.3.2024)

The photoshoots are now over. Thank you to all those interested!

Photos taken during the project can be found at https://salon.io/jussilautu

and on Instagram @jussilautu

Upcoming exhibitions

14.6.-8.9.2024 Taidevaltakunta, Hämeenlinna Art Museum, FI

14.10.-17.11.2024 Centre for Creative Photography, Gallery Ratamo, Jyväskylä, FI

(update 10.11.2023)

At the moment, I hope to find more non-binary* BIPOC participants because at present the series doesn’t represent the diversity amongst non-binary people. Thus far the project has had over 90 non-binary participants. Most of these participants are white and belong to the Finnish majority population.

I'll continue arranging photoshoots until the Spring 2024.

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I'm conducting my PhD research project Extra/ordinary – utopias and norms in the visual representations of non-binary genders at the Doctoral Programme in Gender, Culture, and Society (SKY) at the University of Helsinki. I also work as a visual artist. I am looking for participants for the relating portrait photoshoots and research interviews that will be conducted after the photoshoot.

Here ‘non-binary*’ functions as an umbrella term for everyone who does not unambiguously identify according to the binary gender norms as men or women. If you are, for example, agender, gender fluid or genderqueer you are welcome to participate.

Photoshoots

At the photoshoots, you’ll make a self-portrait at the studio with my assistance. You may decide how you portray yourself in the image and whether you can be identified from the photograph. You may come to the photoshoots alone or with a chosen companion. The images will become part of the IN/VISIBILITY -series that I publish under the pseudonym Jussi Lautu https://salon.io/jussilautu. You do not need prior knowledge of photographic practices to take part. If you don’t want to participate in the interviews or permit the research use of your photos, I won’t use your self-portrait as part of the research. Then it’ll only be part of the photographic series.

Research interviews

In addition to the photoshoot, you may also participate in a research interview where we discuss the image you made, the photoshoot, and the norms or conventions relating to gender non-binary and relating imagery more generally. I use the interviews as research material in my dissertation. Note that due to a large number of participants, I won't be able to interview all the willing participants. I'll make a smaller representative selection of the participants instead.

Research and photoshoot objectives

The research aims to find out what kind of norms and norm-critical aspects (utopias) occur in the visual representations of gender non-binary. The interviews aim to find out what things the participants consider important in their self-portraits, how they felt about the photoshoot situation and what norms related to gender non-binary they encounter in the media imagery and in their daily lives. The objective of the research is to change the prevailing binary gender system by trying to produce alternative ways of depicting gender visually. The objective of the photoshoot method is to make portraits of non-binary people on their own terms.

Timetable and place

I’ll arrange the photoshoots with a flexible timetable starting from September 2022. My studio is in Pasila in Helsinki, but I'll arrange photoshoots elsewhere in Finland as well. I’ll happily take in suggestions on other possible photoshoot locations outside Helsinki! Unfortunately, my studio is not accessible (2nd floor, no elevator), but I’ll arrange accessible photoshoots in Helsinki if needed. The interviews after the photoshoots can be arranged remotely.

If you are interested in participating, please contact me via email at

utu-tuuli.jussila (a) Helsinki.fi

Yours sincerely,

Utu-Tuuli Jussila, Doctoral researcher and visual artist

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The photoshoots begin in September 2022 in Helsinki and outside of Helsinki in October 2022 at the earliest.

The research interviews will be conducted with willing participants starting from November 2022 at the earliest. Note that due to a large number of participants, I won't be able to interview all the willing participants. I'll make a smaller representative selection of the participants instead.

You make the self-portrait on your own using a remote control. I won't be in the studio space while you make the image. You don't need any previous experience in photography to participate.

At the photoshoots, you’ll select one of the images for me to use as part of the photographic series. You may also choose other photos for your private use. I’ll send you all the selected photos as jpg files after the photoshoot. You may permit the research use of your images, but you absolutely don’t have to.

I have set the lighting and the grey colour of the backgrounds for all images. You can decide what you wear, how you pose, the framing of the image, and if you bring any decorations or a pet, for example, with you. You can decide if you want to be recognized in the photograph or not and what name you want to be called in the title of the image.

In the photographic series, the images will be black and white. In the research, they might be published in colour. As a participant, you’ll receive images in both colour and black and white.

The duration of the photoshoot depends on the participant. I recommend you reserve about two hours for the photoshoot.

My studio in Pasila is not accessible because it is located on the second floor with no elevator. Please contact me via e-mail if you have accessibility needs. I’ll do my best to arrange an accessible photoshoot too.

There are no loud noises or strong scents in the studio space. We will use bright flash lighting, but you can control the frequency of the flash. There are chairs in the space, and you may also sit while making the photograph.

If you’re under 18 years old, you may participate in the photoshoot with a guardian’s permission. However, I’ll interview only the participants who are over 18.

At the photoshoot, I’ll consider COVID-19 safety measurements. I’ll use a face mask on request and disinfect all the equipment regularly. We can easily maintain safe distances in the studio space. I hope you won’t come to the photoshoots if you have any flu-like symptoms. We can always reschedule if you get sick.

You may cancel your participation at any point in the process. You may stop the photoshoot or ask me to remove your photo from the series anytime and you won’t face any negative consequences for doing so.

The photographic series was last exhibited in Hippolyte Studio in Helsinki in October-November 2022. I’ll publish the series with the artistic pseudonym Jussi Lautu.

I will send all the photoshoot participants project-related documents before the photoshoot session so that you have the time to familiarize them and you know what you sign up for when participating. There will be four documents.

1. The agreement to participate in the studio photoshoot that will be signed at the photoshoot

2. The image use agreement explains in detail what you’ll commit to when you hand over your photo and what I commit to as an artist and user of the image. The agreement will be signed at the photoshoot.

3. The data protection notice for scientific research informs you on how your personal information is handled throughout the artistic and research processes.

4. The research consent form is for the interviewees and it explains what you agree to when participating in the interviews. This will be signed before the interviews.

I’ll send you the address of the studio and the doodle link for reserving the photoshoot time via email. I’m happy to answer any of your questions and I’ll update the answers on this page as well.

The dissertation project is funded by the Kone Foundation from January 2023 onwards.