DEAMBULATIONS

People in Finland maintain a deep connection with the natural world, and recognise the important role it plays in personal well being. This is reflected in the data: 90 per cent of Finns identify the forest as their favourite place to be, and according to the Natural Resources Institute Finland, 96 per cent take part in outdoor recreation two to three times a week on average. Walking is, officially, the country’s most popular form of exercise.

To better understand this relationship with nature, I undertook four short walks with individuals living in different parts of Finland. Each person selected the route and guided me along as we spoke about happiness in Finland and whatever else emerged in conversation. Created in Helsinki, Turku, Nagu and Rovaniemi, these walks incorporate text drawn from each participant’s responses during our time together.

Deambulations is one of nine series made as part of the MAP6 Collective’s Finland: The Happiness Project. The project explores themes connected to the United Nations’ World Happiness Report, which in 2026 ranked Finland as the happiest country in the world for the ninth consecutive year. The project was published as a book in collaboration with the Finnish Institute and exhibited at the Helsinki Photo Festival.