Punk community offers refuge for outcasts in Kuopio, Finland

The punk community can serve as a refuge for those who feel like outcasts, says 25-year-old Joni Arola. Although Arola has been familiar with punk music since childhood, he fully embraced the punk identity only a few years ago, starting when he began designing and creating clothes that match the punk aesthetic. “The clothes connected me to punks. The community is welcoming and approachable,” Arola explains.

Arola is currently pursuing vocational studies in fashion design, having made the pants he wears in the photo himself. He only styles his mohawk when going out for the evening. Arola has faced numerous challenges in life, including bullying, feelings of isolation, mental health issues, and substance abuse. “A few years ago, I was just sitting in my apartment, drinking beer and using meth,” he recalls. Now, he finds support in his punk friends and girlfriend, Minttu Sorjonen.

Looking ahead, Arola hopes to create more art. In addition to designing and sewing clothes, he also creates visual art. “I just sold my first painting,” Arola shares, with the goal of supporting himself through his artistic endeavors. He expresses a desire to show who he is and what he thinks through his art, which he attributes to a creative drive.

The recent “Kuopio Punkkaa ja Soi” event celebrated punk music as part of the city’s 250th anniversary. Event organizer Mika Vesterinen notes that despite the lack of organized political anarchy within the scene, softer values like environmentalism and feminism are prevalent. Punk attracts younger audiences, emphasizing direct interaction and disregard for societal norms. The resurgence of punk is marked by an increase in local bands, with many youth aged 15-17 forming new groups.