Joint exhibition "Sea" by the Helsinki Artists' Union and the Estonian Painters' Union

The Helsinki Artists' Association and the Estonian Painters' Association are creating new forms of art co-operation between countries. In 2022, big steps have been taken in the exchange of exhibitions, event planning and the transmission of know-how. In the summer, a large joint The Sea exhibition will be held at HAA Gallery in Suomenlinna and Malmitalo Gallery 4.6.–30.7.2022

The main opening will be held on Friday 3.6. at 17–19. The exhibition will be opened by Heidi Hautala, Member of the European Parliament, and Imbi Paju, a writer and film director. Music is provided by Kairi Leivo, who has also made a career as a press, information and culture manager in Estonian embassies. Since 2018, Leivo has been a recognized freelance musician and promoter of traditional culture.

You are welcome to get to know and interview curators and artists at our opening ceremony starting on 3 June at 17 You can also agree on your own suitable time from 1 to 3 June, when at the galleries will be build an exhibition.

The link: FINEST co-operation 2022
https://www.helsingintaiteilijaseura.fi/en/haa-europe/

Curators' words from The Sea exhibition

Although the sea as a given theme seemed a little clichéd, there were multidimensional approach angles to the subject in the works offered. The Estonians' artworks highlighted relaxed irony and conceptual humour. In Estonian visual art, narrative and storytelling have been essential, while Finnish art has strived for more abstract imagery. Now these seemed to happily mix on both sides of the sea. - Mika Vesalahti

Starting an art-based collaboration between our two neighboring countries, we are at the beginning of a long and exciting journey. In order to select the works of the first joint exhibition, I grasped the special features of Finnish art that powerfully stood out in the context of Estonia's selection of paintings. As a whole, I have noticed a strong ontological content in Finnish art; as if the works are emphasizing the forms of pre-word cognition and the phenomenal connection between man and nature. Every painting is a mystery, every spatial object - a "thought machine". - Tiiu Rebane

Since the liberation of Estonia, I have followed the Estonian art field with great interest. As an artist by myself I have also been able to organize several exhibitions of Finnish artists in Estonia. However, I have always dreamed of our joint exhibitions and now, through this project of the Helsinki Artists' Association's HAA Europe, it has been a great pleasure for me to be involved in collaboration with the artists of the Estonian Painters' Association. This cooperation has also taken place at a time when there is horrible war in the middle of Europe. I'm grateful for all the directions that make this co-operation possible, despite the situation at Ukraine, I still be happy to continue the co-operation, and I welcome everyone to our interesting and high-quality summer exhibitions at Malmitalo Gallery and HAA Gallery (Rantakasarmi). - Satu Kalliokuusi

The Estonian-Finnish joint exhibition MERI, meaning „sea“, was already baptized, when I was involved in the project. Meri means the same in both Finnish and Estonian, which is like a 50/50 draw to start with, and as such a very good choice of word! However, the themes of painting exhibitions are as they are – what is depicted in the painting does not necessarily coincide with the content or the field of meaning of the work. The sea separates us as countries, and also unites us – life is indeed a paradox. In terms of its composition, seawater is naturally/chemically
the closest substance to human blood. Life on Earth is believed to have originated in the water, in the primordial oceans of the world. Maybe because of this, a large part of the Nordic people is drawn to spend holidays by the warm sea, their feet literally in the waves? An explosive rise in consumerism associated with mass tourism and weak legislation on nature and environmental protection have taken the pollution of the world’s seas to the point where it would be unreasonable to ignore the situation. Similar thematic developments, as I have just described, were clearly distinguishable in the works of art. Fifty shades of blue in all the possible variations had been captured in the paintings. I was also fascinated by the bold generalisations and determination of Finnish artists in working with abstract material. The Finnish videos from a metaphysical holiday novela in Brazil (and scuba diving with sharks) up to a short video capturing the consistency of water as a material complement the joint exhibition with the position of a so-called investigative artist – which is very good! -Jaan Elken

Contact: eija.saarivirta@helsingintaiteilijaseura.fi, +358 44 055 1678

HAA Galleria | HAA Gallery
Suomenlinna C1
00190 Helsinki
+358 50 470 6087
galleriat@helsingintaiteilijaseura.fi
helsingintaiteilijaseura.fi
Avatud:
Tue–Thur 12.00–18.00
Fri–Sun 12.00–16.00

On the poster: (Left) Mirjam Hinn: Colors That Never Fade (EE)
(Rightl) Heidi Anniina Mattila: Sinisessä / In Blue (FI) ------ Art
co-operation on both sides of the Gulf of Finland