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Cultural Projects
The Augmenters Association has carried out numerous art and cultural projects in Spain and across Europe.
On this page, we present some of our most significant projects, where art, photography, and traditions come together in new and inspiring ways.
Paintings by Victoria Dael
Victoria Dael’s paintings explore the timeless beauty of the olive tree, blending modern expression with classical themes. Her works capture the essence of branches, leaves, bark and fruits, transforming the ancient symbol into a contemporary vision. Through rich details, layers of paint and charcoal drawings she reinterprets the sacred presence of the olive in history and art.
​Photographs by Kristian Kaarna
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The olive tree has symbolized wisdom, peace, resilience, and prosperity throughout history. Rooted in Greek mythology and Mediterranean traditions, it reflects the deep connection between nature and human life.
This exhibition presents modern photographic interpretations of ancient myths, where gods, heroes, and divine gifts are linked to the olive’s enduring presence.
Exhibition at the Nelimarkka Museum
The Grab the Landscape project connects two very different landscapes located at the edges of Europe. The exhibition featuring artists from the Aisapari region is on display at the Nelimarkka Museum in Finland until April 24 2025, and after that, the project's constantly expanding info point will move to Villa Nelimarkka.
The project is carried out not only in the municipalities of Aisapari but also in the Leader Kuudestaan ry region and the Leader Ceder Axarquia area in the province of Málaga, Spain.
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Poster by Victoria Dael
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Victoria Dael is the artist behind this year’s La Molienda de Riogordo 2025 poster. Her paintings explore the timeless beauty of the olive tree, blending modern expression with classical themes. Through layers of paint and charcoal, she captures the essence of branches, leaves, bark, and fruit, transforming this ancient symbol into a contemporary vision. Dael’s work reinterprets the olive’s sacred presence, honoring its cultural significance while celebrating the enduring beauty of nature.
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"Say it Loud" Integration Now!
At Art House Turku is an exhibition showcasing the serene landscapes of Riogordo, captured by photographer Kristian Kaarna. This exhibition highlights not only the beauty of nature but also the importance of integration, with artworks by notable Finnish artists supporting this cause. Through their work, they emphasize the message that, like colors in nature, all cultures and people have the right to exist as they are—diverse, beautiful, and integral to society.
​Gallery 33
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This exhibition presents dried plants from the photographer’s own garden—often overlooked as mere waste. Through their shapes and textures, he discovered a unique aesthetic, transforming them into graphic, almost sculptural compositions. Captured with a Mamiya film camera and handmade prints, these images highlight the delicate yet striking beauty hidden in nature’s discarded remains.
​Urban Landscapes of Riogordo
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Through black and white photography, this exhibition showcased Riogordo as the true protagonist, while people remained secondary, mere bystanders in the scene. The project aimed to highlight hidden beauty within the pueblo—its charming corners, textures, and atmosphere—while capturing the subtle presence of its people. The intention was to spark curiosity and encourage locals to see their town with fresh eyes.
Riogordo: Everyday Moments
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Open to all photography enthusiasts, this competition welcomes anyone with a phone camera—no experience needed. Organized by Augmenters Association, the contest seeks to capture real moments of life in Riogordo. From quiet streets to lively gatherings, the goal is to highlight the authentic atmosphere and charm of the pueblo through spontaneous and personal images.
Capturing Riogordo
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Designed for everyone, this workshop welcomes anyone eager to learn new photography skills, regardless of experience. Participants will explore light, shadows, and composition, discovering how to create beautiful and compelling images. Through hands-on exercises in Riogordo’s streets and landscapes, the workshop encourages a new way of seeing, helping photographers capture the essence of a moment with confidence and creativity.
Echoes of the Frozen North
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In the snow-covered forests of Finnish Lapland, the rare tykkylumi phenomenon transforms trees into fairy-tale figures, resembling people and mythical creatures. Captured by Kristian Kaarna, these photographs showcase Lapland’s magical winter landscapes, where low light, deep shadows, and soft hues create a dreamlike scenery. With daylight barely rising, the snow reflects a mesmerizing play of contrast, color, and atmosphere, revealing winter’s quiet whispers.
Ulla-Mari Lindström
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Blending photography, moving images, and natural materials, the artist creates installations exploring nature and time. Since 2014, she has pressed plant and animal parts onto paper, preserving them as fossil-like memories for future generations.
From documenting disappearing plants, the project evolved into imaginative plant-animal hybrids, envisioning life’s adaptation to climate change. These playful yet thought-provoking forms reflect evolution’s endless possibilities.
Olive Trees of Riogordo
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The sculptural shapes of Riogordo’s olive trees reveal mythical forms, shaped by time and nature. Their twisting trunks bear the marks of history, resilience, and adaptation. Captured in various life stages, these trees symbolize endurance, beauty, and continuity, rooted in regional traditions. This exhibition honors the eternal presence of the olive tree and its cultural significance.
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La Molienda de Riogordo
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Each year, La Molienda de Riogordo honors a local artist with a poster celebrating the region’s olive oil traditions. This festival in Riogordo, Málaga, showcases traditional olive oil production with demonstrations using a restored 16th-century mill.
Visitors enjoy exhibitions, tours, and markets, highlighting the cultural significance of olive oil. Augmenters Cultural Association proudly contributed this year’s poster, celebrating the olive tree’s timeless beauty.
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Special Edition Borbollón Olive Oil
The photograph by Kristian Kaarna has become the signature of the 2024 Special Edition Borbollón Olive Oil from Riogordo. This oil, made with 80% Verdial olives and the remaining Hojiblanca, Manzanilla, or Picual, is a pure juice that stands out for its fruity flavor and exceptional quality.
Kaarna’s image, capturing the essence of olive trees, honors the hard work and tradition behind this unique oil. With this special edition, the label reflects the connection between nature and the culture of Riogordo, offering a work of art that celebrates the beauty of the region’s olive groves.
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Smiles of Riogord
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Genuine smiles bring people together, reflecting the warmth and strong sense of community in Riogordo. This exhibition celebrates joy across generations, capturing the village’s lively spirit through candid portraits. In a world often filled with overwhelming news, it is essential to focus on happiness in everyday life. These touching moments remind us that even the simplest smiles can brighten our surroundings, fostering kindness, connection, and a more caring community.
Photography Competition
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A simple smile can create warmth, bringing people together and fostering connections across generations. This competition encourages everyone to take photos with their phone, capturing friends, family, and strangers through black and white photography. No experience is needed—just a familiar phone camera. Through smily portraits and candid shots, we aim to highlight the joy, kindness, and unique expressions that make Riogordo’s community come alive.
Photography Workshop
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Photography is about learning to see. This workshop explores the importance of light, shadows, and composition, showing how these elements shape an image. With just a familiar phone camera, participants will practice capturing people, understanding how expressions, contrast, and perspective transform in black and white photography. No experience is needed, only curiosity and a willingness to observe. Through hands-on exercises, everyday moments become beautiful, meaningful images.
Icons of Fashion
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Kristian Kaarna’s fashion photography, showcased in this exhibition, captures the unique personality and presence of models like Bimba Bosé, Nastasia Urbano, and Carolina Bittencourt from 1998–2005. His passion for portraying people’s essence shines through, revealing their elegance, strength, and allure. These images embody the glamour, artistry, and timeless beauty of high-end fashion.
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The LEADER programme
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Supported by the EU LEADER program, the "Grab the Landscape" project brought artists from Spain and Finland together to explore and paint each other's landscapes. Immersing themselves in unfamiliar surroundings, they captured the essence of these places through fresh eyes, revealing beauty locals may overlook. This collaboration led to exhibitions in both countries, showcasing the unique charm, atmosphere, and natural splendor of the places we call home and highlighting the universal appreciation of landscapes across cultures.
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Finnish Artists' Workshop
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As part of the EU LEADER-funded project, Finnish artists led an inclusive art workshop in Riogordo, open to all ages and skill levels. Using crayons and a simple framing tool, participants painted their vision of the landscape. This hands-on experience explored perspective, composition, and color, fostering a deeper appreciation for the surroundings and a shared creative process.
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Grab the Landscape
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This cultural exchange project between Finland and Spain fosters artistic collaboration through landscape-inspired works. Since 2020, the Kuudestaan Association and the city of Alajärvi have partnered with Villa Kaarna in a creative dialogue.
The project’s results were exhibited at the Riogordo Ethnographic Museum from November 5–30, 2022. The museum welcomed local artists and young participants, encouraging them to engage and explore new ideas for cultural exchange.
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Exhibition at Finlandia House
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Kristian Kaarna’s Landscapes exhibition features large-format photographs of breathtaking vistas from around the world. Presented at the Finlandia House, Little Finlandia in Helsinki in autumn 2022, the exhibition offers viewers a chance to connect deeply with the beauty and diversity of nature. Through each image, the power and serenity of the world’s landscapes come to life.
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Expansive Horizons
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Kristian Kaarna’s landscape exhibition brought massive, immersive photographs to the museum, with prints reaching up to 3 by 6 meters. These striking color images, produced using the Swiss-patented Diasec process, offer a crystal-clear, vibrant view of landscapes from around the world. Through his work, Kaarna captures the vastness, beauty, and raw emotion of nature, transporting viewers to distant and breathtaking environments.
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