Backlight

Rotterdam Photo 2026 × The Backlight Photo Festival (Finland)

During Rotterdam Photo 2026, we continue our international cultural exchange with The Backlight Photo Festival in Finland, creating space for emerging photographic talent to connect across borders. This collaboration fosters dialogue between artistic communities in Rotterdam and Finland, strengthening long-term creative relationships.

Following an open call organized by Backlight, two photographers — Milla Radaelli and Sami Sorasalmi — were selected to take part in the 2026 edition. Their work is presented within our curated program, offering insight into the breadth, experimentation, and critical perspectives that define the next generation of contemporary photography.

Later this year, students from the Willem de Kooning Academy (WdKA) will travel to Finland to participate in the Backlight Photo Festival, continuing this exchange and deepening the shared commitment to nurturing emerging voices in the field.

 

Milla Radaelli

My First

My First is a photographic exploration of first love. It traces how young people experience falling in love for the first time, capturing moments of excitement, vulnerability, hesitation, and connection.

In a world marked by conflict, displacement, and collective anxieties, such moments of tenderness take on a radical significance. The series is my response to the chaos of the wider world: a meditation on how love, trust, and intimacy can flourish even amidst uncertainty. First love is framed not only as personal transformation, but also as an act of resilience and hope – a quiet rebellion against emotional numbness and the harshness of life.

My First forms part of a broader, ongoing exploration of love across different life stages, reflecting on how human connection persists, heals, and resists under conditions of uncertainty.

Find out more:

Instagram: @radaellimilla and @backlight_fi 

 

 

Sami Sorasalmi

Uprooted Legacy

Olive trees and their branches have stood as symbols of peace, reconciliation, and hope in various cultures and religions. For many Palestinians, olive trees hold deep significance, symbolizing their connection to the land and their cultural heritage. As an important source of livelihood, the olive harvest supports tens of thousands of Palestinian families across Palestine.

The Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories has lasted for more than half a century. During this time, hundreds of thousands of olive trees owned by Palestinians have been uprooted and destroyed by Israeli security forces and settlers. Palestinian farmers face harassment and violence, especially during the olive harvest season. There are documented cases of farmers being killed by settlers or Israeli security forces during the harvest. Access to one’s olive grove can be restricted or made difficult due to the West Bank Barrier, the proximity of illegal settlements or Israeli roads, or the arbitrary use of power by the Israeli security forces.

This work presents portraits of olive trees in Palestine.

 

Find out more:

Instagram: @samisorasalmi and @backlight_fi