The World’s Northernmost Metro – Street Photography from Helsinki by Simo Tolvanen

Two weeks in the metro, what a foolish idea. That is how it all began, though. In the summer of 2025, I decided to follow through on an idea I had voiced aloud: I travelled back and forth on the metro for two weeks, hours at a time each day, photographing life inside the carriages and on the platforms. This intensive project resulted in a documentary street photography collection titled The World’s Northernmost Metro, which is now on display at Gallery IPIOMA, located within IPI Kulmakuppila in Helsinki.

The exhibition documents the atmosphere of the city in summertime within a dense, urban microcosm. The result is a cinematic and human look into everyday realism across Helsinki and Espoo. I have been practicing street photography since 2010, and my passion lies in discovering soulful moments within urban daily life and its raw edges, moments that most of us pass by unnoticed.

Culture and Social Impact Behind the Scenes

The setting and background of my exhibition make this project particularly meaningful to me. Gallery IPIOMA operates in conjunction with the vibrant IPI Kulmakuppila in the Kallio district of Helsinki. It is a place where excellent coffee, urban city culture, and art meet in a natural way.

The foundation of this entire concept is supported by the Riikka Herlin Foundation. At the core of the foundation’s work is a beautiful and important purpose: to support and promote employment, well-being, and social inclusion for those in more vulnerable positions. Indeed, IPI Kulmakuppila is known for providing meaningful employment to individuals with developmental disabilities and other professionals requiring support. It is an honour to bring my photographs into a space built upon such valuable and compassionate work.

The Soul of Everyday Realism on the Tracks

As a photographer, the metro network running through Helsinki and Espoo has always fascinated me. When you immerse yourself in that underground world for two weeks, you notice how the metro strips away people’s roles. Commuters are on their way to work, returning from celebrations, lost in their own thoughts, or sharing a quiet moment with a friend. It serves as a stage where the mundane becomes cinematic, provided one stops to look.

This exhibition is an invitation to slow down and discover beauty where it is least expected, following the rumble of orange carriages and the interplay of light on the platforms. Stop by for a coffee at IPI Kulmakuppila during June 2026 and step aboard The World’s Northernmost Metro for a moment.