SOLD OUT 2005 - 2014
"Rural flight, and the accompanying decay of services, is a relative problem in many Western European countries. People can often go to larger, nearby residential centres for the supplies and services the need. In Scandinavia a decline in the population often is a much more direct threat to the livea-bility of a community. The distances are greater and the population density is lower. Over a period of years Sirpa Päivinen travelled through her own Finland photographing village stores, cafés and petrol stations that were literally being sold out. They were disappearing not only because of the decreasing number of local residents, and thus of potential clients, but also because of competition from mega-supermarkets in larger population centres. Her portrait gallery of desolate buildings is a requiem for the Finish countryside." (Noorderlicht)

Halikko, Tunila, pigment print on canvas, 23 x 30 cm

Inha, Ähtäri

Kihniö

Korvenkylä, Lappeenranta

Lapinjärvi

Luumäki

Myllymäki, Ähtäri

Olhava, Ii

Somero

Pukaro, Lapinjärvi