6.6. — 29.6.2025

While the North Karelia Pride 2025 was taking place, we were forced to see a video post on social media by a municipal councelor of the True Finns party and a member of parliament’s assistant, in which the councelor-assistant shoots a person belonging to a sexual and gender minority from a (Nazi German) tank. ‘’GOOD MEME’’ was the councilor’s response when asked about the post and its appropriateness (the lack thereof). The 49 people belonging to sexual and gender minority who were killed in the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in the USA would hardly say “good” (if they were alive), or the 350 trans people murdered in the world over the past year (Amnesty 11/2024), etc.

We easily fall into the delusion (lie) of tolerance, even though the truth is something completely different. The tolerance that those of us belonging to the sexual and gender minorities, thought we had received, is now being strongly questioned by far-right, conservative and fascist forces around the world, and unfortunately also here in Finland. The Nazi tanks continue to roll in, conversion therapy cannot be banned, and the Lutheran Church still holds conservative attitudes towards sexual and gender minorities, etc.

Reima Hirvonen (Pyy) has made works about the frustration, anger, fear, powerlessness and rage caused by (the state of) wars, genocides, racism, discrimination, injustice and environmental destruction, etc. PRIDE IS A PROTEST UNTIL EVERYONE IS FREE!

The exhibition has been supported by Arts Promotion Centre Finland.

Reima Hirvonen (Pyy) (b. 1963) is a 61 year old visual artist, homosexual, environmental and gay rights activist. Hirvonen studied at Vapaa Taidekoulu 1999–2003.