– 61N 21E – Jan Eerala
An endless documentary story from the lost shores of the Bothnian Sea.
The photographer Jan Eerala, based in Pori, has been running the Rupuranta blog since 2003. Over the years, as technology has advanced, it has evolved into a video blog. The Rupuranta blog features hundreds of documentary videos from the coastal areas of Meri-Pori and the shores of the Bothnian Sea.
For nearly a decade, Eerala has been mapping and documenting changes in nature, including seasonal transitions and ecological changes caused by human activity. Thanks to the internet, Rupuranta has gained a global reach and audience; life along the shores of the Bothnian Sea can now be observed almost in real time, even from the other side of the world.
MEDIA RELEASE
JAN EERALA: – 61N 21E – A YEAR BY THE SHORE
15.06.–02.09.2012, Rappu
An endless documentary story from the rugged shores of the Bothnian Sea.
I remember as if it were yesterday, the morning I woke up for the first time in my cabin in Makholma. The silence was so profound; I had never experienced anything like it. At that moment, I understood that I could never again live in a city. So, I stayed in Makholma, a small fishing village on the shores of the Bothnian Sea. Outside, the seagulls called, the sea roared, and the wind whispered. Yet, I always yearned for the sea—venturing out by boat in the summer and skiing in the winter. During the thaw, I wandered along the shores, sometimes exploring the industrialized and ravaged coastlines of Meri-Pori.
– 61N 21E tells a more or less documentary tale of these explorations, observations, and phenomena, presented through 107 short films.
In 2001, I had an exhibition at the Pori Art Museum called La Strada. It depicted my youthful excursions into the remote areas of Satakunta. The place and time may differ, but the act of observing and experiencing remains the same. The journey, it seems, is endless.
This exhibition is a compilation lasting over 5 hours, featuring video films originally created for my blog from 9 July 2010 to 5 November 2012. The story continues online at rupuranta.net.
About Jan Eerala
Jan Eerala, a photographer from Pori, is renowned for his depictions of his surroundings. He has widely exhibited his photographs in solo and group exhibitions. Since 2003, he has maintained the Rupuranta blog, which, with advancements in technology, has transformed into a video blog.
The Rupuranta blog contains hundreds of documentary videos from the Meri-Pori area and the shores of the Bothnian Sea. For nearly a decade, Eerala has mapped and documented changes in nature, including seasonal transitions and ecological transformations caused by human activity.
Eerala’s videos are multifaceted. They are small autobiographical narratives that reveal the humorous and performative aspects of life. His depictions of nature are poetic and minimalist, forming a meditative viewing experience, all accompanied by the natural soundscape. Thanks to the internet, Rupuranta has achieved global reach and audience; the life of the Bothnian Sea coastline can now be followed in near real-time, even from the other side of the globe.
Translated with ChatGPT