Ada Pääskysaari (b. 2000) is a Finnish photographer and visual artist, based in Helsinki. In her work she explores themes of identity, self-image, neurodivergence through text and self-portraiture. She graduated from Lahti Institute of Design and Fine Arts in 2025.

Zoe, The Protagonist

”Zoe, The Protagonist” is an ongoing photography project that explores themes of self-image, insecurity, neurodivergence, the process of unmasking and the dependence on external validation. Using self-portraiture as a tool, the artist tells her story through her alter ego, a character called Zoe.

Every human being takes influence from and mimics others in some form at some point in their life. As children, we play different characters from bedtime stories and cartoons; as teens, we start dressing up as our favorite pop stars; and as adults, we might identify with relatable characters and archetypes from TV and cinema. To a certain degree, this is normal. But what happens when you realize that the times you’ve felt accepted are often the ones when you’ve tried your best to be someone you’re not?

Which one will you become: the underdog who turns rags to riches, or the vindictive antihero starring in a splatter film?

Web: http://adapaaskysaari.cargo.site

Instagram: http://zoetheprotagonist