“A Bourgeois Dream” presents various interpretations of the hopes and dreams often associated with the “good life”. The perfectly round images in the series are deliberately out of focus in much the same way that dreams are often unclear and open to various interpretations.

In this series of photographs, Kari Soinio includes images that reflect both sides of the middle class dream. For example, in #4, the photograph of part of a police car, Soinio may suggest that fulfillment of the longed for dream comes at a price. In addition to the hope of a perfect and happy family, # 11, dreams often reflect inner fears, doubts, and insecurities, #5. Soinio explains that the images in “A Bourgeois Dream” underscore the dual nature of living the dream life. “In our post 9/11 world, more than ever, our world is unpredictable and often cruel. Our high hopes and reality meet in sometimes unexpected ways.”

Kari Soinio was born in Helsinki, Finland, obtained his BA from the Design Institute, Lahti, Finland, studied photography at The International Center of Photography in New York, and obtained his MA from the University of Industrial Arts in Helsinki. Soinio has had solo exhibitions at the Hippolyte Gallery and the Kluuvi Gallery in Helsinki and at the Gallery Husa in Tampere, Finland. In addition, he has participated in numerous group exhibitions in Europe.

Soinio’s work is in the collections of the Museum of Finnish Photography, The Museum of Contemporary Art in Helsinki, the Helsinki City Art Museum and in several private collections throughout the world.

This exhibition was funded in part by FRAME, The Finnish Fund for Art Exchange. Information about FRAME is available at www.frame-fund.fi.

More photos from this show.