Salamata Mboup: (Un)Biased?!

(Un)Biased?! consists of unframed prints that portray a variety of individuals. In the images we see a number of ways in which assumptions, contradictions, uninvited actions and beliefs stem from the way we appear to others. A look can be a statement, but it can also be a way to communicate and signal a connection with others. Physical appearance has also historically been a tool of social control. Looks have been used both to reinforce and resist social hierarcies. The outer shell can be altered to an extent, certain traits and essence cannot be hidden. Will a strong sense of self-expression give an individual an impression of control when perceived by others or is it just an illusion?

In (Un)Biased?! Salamata Mboup dives into the complex relationship between identity, appearance and being perceived through the lens of fashion photography. She explores who has the option to choose whether or not to stand out or blend into the crowd. This exbition invites viewers to consider how prejudices affect our social interactions and sense of belonging in an appearance-centered society, especially in the current era of attention economy.

Salamata “Sala” Mboup (b. 1999) is a multi-disciplinary artist, photographer, director, creative director and DJ based in Helsinki, Finland. The Finnish-Senegalese artist hailing from France, is mostly known for her fashion photography style that feeds off of boldness and colors. Listed as one of Finland’s young rising talents in 2024 and nominated as Fashion Photographer of the year 2025, Mboup has made her presence very clear in the Finnish creative scene. Mboup is a self-taught creative and (Un)Biased?! is her debut solo exhibition.

The exhibition is part of the gallery’s 2025-26 program called Textures of Security, which has been curated through an open call by the museum’s curatorial team and invited curator Farbod Fakharzadeh, and supported by Finnish Heritage Agency.