"My paintings stem from everyday anecdotes, experiences and observations shared with friends – things that are generally important to me in some way. I paint portraits of my friends, my loved ones and myself. I add fictional characteristics to real people and depict them as alternative versions of themselves. These alter egos are a way of facing the surrounding reality and its phenomena; sudden horror that is mixed with seemingly calm everyday life, various states between emotions as well as love and raw joy." Joel Slotte (b. 1987 Kokkola) is a visual artist who lives and works in Helsinki. He first studied at the Nordic Art School 2007–2009, and then at the Academy of Fine Arts, graduating in 2016. Slotte is a multifaceted artist, who paints, draws and makes ceramics. His works are in the Kiasma, Pro Artibus, HAM and other collections. His works are like secret journeys into art history, from where he gets ideas for works in which people from the present day appear. Joel Slotte was chosen the Young Artist of the Year 2021 in Finland.

Jani Anders Purhonen (b. 1982 in Ekenäs) lives and works in Helsinki. He gained his Master’s in visual arts in the Time and Space Arts subject area at the Academy of Fine Arts in Helsinki in 2015. In his work Purhonen looks at collective working methods that lower the threshold for coming together around art. He has been an active member of the artist-run art gallery Oksasenkatu 11 and has produced radio programmes for the local station Radio Bekola. Together with Eeva Rönkä, Purhonen runs Bebetton – a small stage for art in the suburb of Roihupelto, Helsinki. Purhonen and Elina Rantasuo started the Bread Omens project during an artist’s residency in Marrakesh in 2018.