Otto Hainzl

from Helsinki Photo News 2020

Laura Bisgaard Krogh & Andreas Haubjerg

Otto Hainzl (AU)

Europastrasse

Most of us have heard of one, fewer know what an ›Europastrasse‹ exactly is. Whatever the precise answer, they stretch all over our continent.

Implementing such an Europastrasse requires a huge effort — an effort in willpower, in budget, in planning as well as in engineering. There must be a strong determination, otherwise they simply would not exist. Nevertheless, whose determination is it? Ultimately it is the determination of ourselves, the European society!

Yet, who are we as European society? This is exactly the question which the Austrian photographer Otto Hainzl asks the audience of his work to consider. By tracking our traces, by photographing apparently unspectacular settings, arrangements of our everyday lives, he generates a Bilderwelt that reflects us Europeans in various aspects. After all, we are the architects of Hainzl's subjects.

For this observation Hainzl picked the E75 ›Europastrasse‹. Nine countries will be crossed by this road, from Vardø, the most northeastern point of Norway, all the way to Sitia on the Greek Island of Crete. The longest stretch is in Finland. He rode along the E75 in its entirety in nearly a quarter of a year. Throughout this journey, he reflected and documented “us” Europeans and “our” europeanness in image, video, sound and more.

www.ottohainzl.at

Various works of the artists were exhibited at Korjaamo Culture Factory.

**Otto Hainzl, Europastrasse exhibition at Helsinki Photo Festival 2020**

This solo photo exhibition was supported by the Austrian Embassy Helsinki celebrating in 2020 with Finland and Sweden their 25th anniversary of EU-Membership.