Van  Houten project preface

The Van Houten project created by Juha Kaarenmaa shows a close relationship with nature. In self-portraits he wants to be assimilated into that - to be a part of it.

To make the instinct stronger he is using cacao mask, which gives you freedom of going over into new spaces - into timelessness... 

Just before the opening of the exhibition, while the process still was
going on, he became aware of the connection with the Himba tribe living between the border of Namibia and Angola. 
 

The aboriginal population has been using similar mask for centuries:
" They say they use the ochre-butter mixture because they like the way it looks, although it undoubtedly also protects their skin against the arid climate."

Photo exhibitions:
- Hip-Hip Hippeastrum, flower pictures in the toilet of Cafe-Camera, 1994
- Nattura Islands, pictures of Island nature,
Laterna Magica, 1996
- Van Houten I, self-portraits, Laterna Magica, 2000
- Van Houten II, video projector show, the Helsinki Night of Arts, 2002                                                                                            - helsinkiläisiä.nyt, Jugendsali 2003                                                 - Ambiances by Close-Up Photographers, Vallila Library 2007

In addition Kaarenmaa has been participating in many collective exhibitions.