ARTISTS from the North-East and Finland have come together to look at the cultures of two cities through art.

An exhibition called The Labyrinth will give different views about life in Sunderland and Kuopio, a city 200 miles north-east of the Finnish capital Helsinki.

Kuopio, which has a population of 86,000 people, is regarded as the centre of commerce in eastern Finland.

Do Holroyd, curator at Sunderland University's Reg Vardy Gallery, said: "The theme of the overall project is northern spirit.

"Each country has a distinctly northern identity shaped by isolation from cultural centres, harsh weather, economic disadvantage, a strong sense of people belonging to their place and pride in their 'northerness'."

Artists Nanna Hanninen, Petri Kervola and Miko Kivenen, travelled to Sunderland from the VB Photographic Centre, in Finland, last year.

Sunderland University's Arabella Plouviez made the return trip to Kuopio.

All four artists' works explore regional identity using large scale photographs, videos and paintings.

The exhibition is running at both the Reg Vardy Gallery, Ryhope Road, Sunderland, and a gallery in Kuopio.

The Reg Vardy Gallery is open from Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm, and The Labyrinth runs until March 2. For more information call 0191-515 2128.