Signals exhibition glimmers with pale Finnish light
The Signals exhibition, now on at the Flow gallery in London, features works of eight Finnish contemporary artists. The exhibition was launched on Thursday the 15th of January and the opening event drew a diversity of guests all interested in Finnish contemporary art. The works differ from wool paintings to ceramic sculptures.
The Finnish ambassador Jaakko Laajava opened the exhibition and thanked everyone who was involved in putting it together. Journalist Emma Crichton- Miller who had recently returned from her short trip to Finland also gave a speech in the event. In her speech she pointed out some main characteristics of Finnish contemporary art and design.
Technical quality of Finnish art “extremely high”
Crichton- Miller recently returned from a trip to Finland during which she had the opportunity to visit different civic centres. She sees that Finnish art is closely connected to design of glass and textile. Many of the artists whose works are presented at Signals also work for Finland's biggest glassware design company Arabia.
"Finnish art is very high quality in terms of technique and materials. This comes down to the quality of art and design teaching in Finland. Artists choose their materials and techniques very carefully,” Crichton- Miller explained.
Crichton- Miller also pointed out the colours the artists used in their works. "Most of the works in this exhibition show how important light is in Finland and how different it is from that in Britain. These works use the colours from nature which is very much present in Finland. Mostly used colours are different shades of blue, white and grey."
Finnish folklore also gives its own mark to the works. Crichton- Miller told how artist Kati Tuominen-Niittylä's ceramic sculptures have gotten their shape from the pots and pans used in Finnish countryside. "The influence of the Finnish countryside and its life style is clearly present in her works."
Wool paintings of monkeys, ceramic sculptures of shoe pairs and illustrations of life and death
On show are artist Nina Nisonen’s remarkable wool paintings which represent different kinds of monkeys in various positions. The artist tells that the inspiration for these works came to her after she was recovering from a surgery in a hospital. "I looked out the window and saw a vision of monkeys in a nearby tree. I didnt want to forget that image because it was so funny! These monkeys then later transferred to my art. They represent the mood I am in and therefore differ from anger and melancholy to playfulness or humour," she said.
Another example of signals comes from artist Saana Murtti's ceramic sculptures. She seeks to explore and investigate the relationship of familiar objects to the human figure in her works. She has for instance demonstrated how a ceramic block gradually evolves into a familiar object such as a pair of shoes.
Artist Kaija Poijula on the other hand has got her inspiration from the verses of a famous Finnish poet Pentti Saarikoski. Her installations aim to capture the beautiful moments of morning dew, maiden snow or mist. Those moments are usually noticed only when they are already gone. Her work discusses the themes of life and death, joy and sorrow and rites of passage.
Text: Tiiamari Pennanen, Embassy of Finland
Photos: Tiiamari Pennanen and Pirjo Pellinen
Signals exhibition runs 15th January - 14 March 2009 at the Flow gallery