KRISTIAN KAARNA | Photographer

Kristian Kaarna is a European photographer and cultural organizer who lives in Riogordo, southern Spain. He takes an active part in the life of the town, especially through the Augmenters Cultural Association, which he founded and where he serves as president. Through the association, exhibitions, workshops, and international art projects are created, bringing together local residents and artists from around the world.

In Kristian’s work, community and intercultural dialogue take center stage. He believes that art can transcend borders and create space for acceptance, friendship, and new encounters. This vision is also strongly reflected in the project Hymyilevä Oulu 26, which he leads as official part of the Oulu 2026 European Capital of Culture program. The project brings people from different backgrounds together through photography and highlights the stories of minorities and those experiencing loneliness.

Kristian’s photography combines aesthetic sensitivity with a deep commitment to social impact. He captures landscapes, details of nature, and people, aiming to reveal moments and perspectives that often remain unnoticed. His work conveys the idea that every place, every story, and every person holds significance as part of a shared whole.

Community-based work has become a central part of his practice over the years. Through the Augmenters Cultural Association, he develops cultural projects that connect people, places, and perspectives across borders.

His work includes leading EU-level cultural projects, organising photography and other art workshops, as well as photography competitions, and running the Casa de la Plaza artist residency in Riogordo.

What matters most to him is creating spaces where people feel welcome to participate, share their stories, and meet others through art.

Portraits

He has always been fascinated by the diversity of human faces. From professional models to people in his own village, portraits are a constant source of inspiration for him.

What matters most to him is the individuality of each person — the expressions, the hidden stories, the unique presence. Through portraits, he seeks to celebrate this richness and make it visible to others.

Exhibitions & Cultural Projects

Landscapes

He finds endless inspiration in the diversity and power of nature. A landscape can be bright and full of color or quiet and almost without it — both carry their own strength.

For him, photographing landscapes is about paying attention to these contrasts and showing the beauty in nature’s endless variety.

Film Photography & Darkroom

For him, black-and-white photography holds a special power. Its simplicity and contrasts give images a timeless quality that continues to fascinate him.

Even in the digital age, he is still drawn to film. The calm beauty of the grey scale adds a sense of depth and timelessness to every image.