VIENNA – At a reception hosted by the Finnish Embassy in Austria on February 10th, marking the centenary of photographer Claire Aho’s birth (1925-2015), her son, Jussi Brofeldt, founding president of the AHO & SOLDAN Photo and Film Foundation, discussed the historical and familial influences that shaped his mother’s career.
“My mother was born in 1925 and passed away in 2015,” Brofeldt recalled. “Her father and his brother founded the first documentary film company in Finland in 1924.” This company, Aho & Soldan, emerged during a pivotal moment for the newly independent nation. “Finland had only been independent for seven years, and no one knew what the country looked like or how Finns lived,” Brofeldt explained. The production firm created over 450 documentary films, playing a significant role in internationally representing the young nation.
Brofeldt stated that the foundation’s current work is a direct continuation of that collaborative spirit, begun almost a century ago. The Aho & Soldan Foundation aims to foster awareness of Finnish historical photography and film, particularly the work of Heikki Aho, Björn Soldan, Claire Aho, and the Aho & Soldan film company, dating back to the 1920s.
Claire Aho came from a deeply artistic family. Her grandfather was Juhani Aho, a prominent figure in Finnish literature, and her grandmother was Venezuelan. “It’s an artistic tradition in our family,” Brofeldt noted, adding that his mother represented the third generation dedicated to cultural work. She joined the family company in 1950 and later established her own photography studio.
Aho held degrees in journalism and sociology, viewing photography as a natural means of communication. She became a pioneer of color photography in Finland, a field she approached with remarkable foresight. “She was ahead of her time,” her son emphasized.
Beyond technical innovation, Brofeldt highlighted his mother’s humanistic approach. “She used to say: ‘Color, color everywhere.’” For him, this phrase encapsulates her outlook on life and her photographic style. “I have never seen a picture where someone is portrayed negatively or condescendingly. People are building something, they are creating, they are trying to improve their living conditions. There is something positive and encouraging in her way of photographing.”
Brofeldt believes this perspective remains relevant today. Through her photography, his mother conveyed a sense of dignity, hope, and trust in the future. Claire Aho was the only woman to photograph the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, which led to a position as a photojournalist with Warner Bros. In Finland.
The foundation, now led by Brofeldt, promotes international collaborations, exhibitions, and donations to cultural institutions. He describes this work as “soft power diplomacy” – a cultural diplomacy operating on a human level. “This proves a very human way to communicate. There are no borders,” Brofeldt concluded.