Bamberg became interested in the subject after reading a newspaper article about a man who had called 911 after being beaten by his wife. The person on duty at the emergency center had asked “Are you taking the pot from the woman?” and Inquired about the size difference between the spouses. In the end, the emergency center had been asked to figure out the situation on their own.
The starting point for the series of works has been men’s words and stories – portraits and video interviews of men who have been victims of domestic violence are an essential part of the exhibition. Bamberg has found the interviewees through organizations that help victims of violence, and they have participated in the process voluntarily. The works feature participants from all the Nordic countries. Their fates are different: one has been threatened by his wife with a knife, the other says he had heart attacks due to constant fear and stress, and the third has been doused with lighter fluid. In addition to the portraits of the men, the exhibition shows words or sentences embroidered on the Bamberg fabric, which are taken from the stories of the victims.
Bamberg received the 2022 Man’s Work award from the Advisory Board for Equality (Tane) for his work on violence experienced by men, and especially for the Johan work series.
Kenneth Bamberg (b. 1981 Åland) graduated with a master’s degree in photography from Aalto University in 2011. Growing up in Åland has influenced Bamberg and his interest in exploring different cultural and traditional ways of expressing masculinity. One goal is to open new perspectives on traditional and seemingly permanent images of masculinity. Bamberg has presented his works extensively in solo and group exhibitions both in Finland and internationally. His works have been exhibited in private exhibitions, e.g. at the Finnish Institute in Madrid and Gallery VU in Quebec, as well as in group exhibitions at the National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen and the Photographic Museum in Winterthur in Zurich. Bamberg has been awarded numerous awards and grants, including two three-year working grants from the Finnish Cultural Foundation and the Kone Foundation.
