Since the early 1990’s Eija-Liisa Ahtila’s films and still photographs have told stories of human relationships and the elementary emotions that underlie these relationships: love, anger, jealousy, sexuality and vulnerability. Ahtila describes her films as “human dramas.” Her fictional narratives are acted out by actors and actresses and emerge from interviews and extensive research, as well as her own observation and memory. Eija-Liisa Ahtila’s films take full advantage of the gallery space, often showing on multiple screens or within complex installations. This allows her stories to unfold simultaneously both in time and space, creating a multilayered experience that engages the viewer physically.

Eija-Liisa Ahtila was born in Hämeenlinna, Finland in 1959; she lives and works in Helsinki, having completed her studies in cinema in California and London.