Meeri Koutaniemi

Meeri Koutaniemi, 27, a Finnish photographer and journalist, was born in Lapland and lives currently in Helsinki. \\Koutaniemi's work extends to over 40 countries where she has photographed and documented people with compelling stories of struggle and resilience. Her work stems from the question and definition of identity. Koutaniemi has focused on humanitarian side of conflicts, displacement and discrimination. At the core of her work lies a universal ability for empowerment and resistance. \\In 2012 and 2013 Koutaniemi was selected as the Photographer of the Year in Finland. In 2012 Koutaniemi received the Memorial Award of Tim Hetherington in United States and the Memorial Award of Carina Appel in Finland 2013.\\Koutaniemi has exhibited her photos in over 50 exhibitions around the world. Her first book Oasis was published in Finland in 2013. In 2014 Koutaniemi won the Visa D'or Daily Press Award in Perpignan and FreeLens Award in Lumix Photofestival in Hannover with her photo essay on female genital mutilation. Koutaniemi was selected to participate to Joop Swart and VII Masterclass in 2014.\\Koutaniemi is a founder member of an Italian Photo Agency Echo and Finnish Collective 11.At the moment Koutaniemi is focusing on her long-term project about female genital mutilation in Africa.