Seasons of identity : visual narratives of cultural adaptation and belonging through collaborative artistic photography in Finland

Abstract

This thesis responds to the central question: How can collaborative artistic photography be used as a tool to narrate and visually represent migrant women’s cultural identities and processes of adaptation? Grounded in Art Based Action Research (ABAR), the study combines visual and written narratives as well as digital mixed media tools to demonstrate the potential of collaborative methods to represent how folkloric symbols and traditions function as anchors of identity during migration. Four women—three migrants, including the researcher, and one Finnish participant—co created portraits inspired by their cultural identities and by the contrast with the Finnish seasons as part of their journey toward adaptation and belonging.

The results show that collaborative photography creates a safe space in which creative expression and emotions can be articulated, giving voice to hybrid identities shaped through negotiation, personal relationships, and the emotional dimensions of migration. A blurred space between reality and fantasy becomes the metaphor through which resilience, continuity, and transformation can be visualized. The study concludes that collaborative photography is not only a method of documentation but also an empowering practice that makes personal narratives, cultural roots, and emerging forms of belonging visible and meaningful. This approach also holds potential beyond migration, offering possibilities for community engagement, emotional healing, and empowerment in diverse social contexts.

The outcomes of this research are presented both in written form and through the photographic exhibition Seasons of Identity: Threads of Magic, displayed at the Hämärä Gallery at the University of Lapland, from April 28 to May 13, 2026.