Joel Hilska-Heikkinen




Joel Hilska-Heikkinen





Birdwatching


Exhibited at KAGANHOTEL 2026
Exhibited at Sapporo Tenjinyama Art Studio 2025

During a three-month residency at Sapporo Tenjinyama Art Studio, I attempted to understand the act of birdwatching and what it could mean to me. The birdwatching attempts took place in various mountain and nature trails around Sapporo.

Whenever I heard the sounds of a bird from a certain direction, I would face that way and take the photograph. The birds might not be visible in the resulting photographs, but they certainly are there somewhere—hiding behind the green foliage and, perhaps, watching me.