Äkkigalleria 12 - poetry performance by Tero Hannula

Tero Hannulan 'Anarkismi on nainen' on runoperformanssi ja ylistyslaulu naiseudelle ja vapaudelle. Esitys on luotu Äkkigalleria 12-näyttelyä varten eikä sitä tulla esittämään muissa yhteyksissä.
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Guest poet Tero Hannula performs his “Anarchism is Woman”, a song of reverence to women and freedom. The performance was created solely for the Äkkigalleria 12 exhibition.

 Tero Hannula performs his poem Anarchism is Woman, infront of Pirjetta Brander's animation video Purgatory.

Tero Hannula infront of Pirjetta Brander's animation video Purgatory.

photos: Juho Jäppinen

and here is the link to the performance.

Äkkigalleria 12 - Tulessa

For this same text in English see: Äkkigalleria 12 - On Fire

Äkkigalleria 12 – Tulessa

Järjestyksessä kahdestoista Äkkigalleria kokoaa yhteen seitsemän suomalaista naistaiteilijaa.

Sukupuoli ei ole ainoa taiteilijoita yhdistävä tekijä, vaan ennen kaikkea he kaikki jakavat voimakkaan tekemisen hengen; he kaikki elävät ja käsittelevät kokemuksiaan teoksiensa kautta. Taiteilijat käyttävät taidettaan kommunikaation välineenä, ja kaikki mitä he viestivät, on selkeää ja itsetietoista.

Kaikki seitsemän taiteilijaa ovat keskittyneet työssään ihmisten ja ihmissuhteiden kuvaamiseen, kukin omalla tavallaan ja näkökannaltaan. He ovat tuoneet itsensä tekemisen keskiöön sekä tarkkailijana että tarkkailtavana, sekä tekijänä että teon kohteena. 

Taiteilijat edustavat myös laajaa taiteellista osaamista. He työskentelevät tekstiilin, maalauksen, veistosten, animaation, grafiikan, performanssin ja videotaiteiden saralla. Kaikki nämä mediat ovat esillä myös Äkkigallerian Tulessa-näyttelyssä.

Taiteilijoiden luomisvoima ja asenne saattaa osittain johtua naiseudesta; elämän kokemisesta tietynlaisen sosiaalisen viitekehyksen lävitse. Se on vaikuttanut heidän tapaansa ajatella ja toteuttaa itseään. Mutta ennen kaikkea nämä taiteilijat ovat voimakkaita ja menestyviä taiteilijoita, joiden luomistavat ovat tulessa.

Äkkigalleria kahdentoista taiteilijat ovat:

Pirjetta Branderille piirtäminen on tapa elää ja kommunikoida. Teoksiensa avulla hän peilaa ihmisten välisiä suhteita ja sitä kuinka ihmiset käyttäytyvät toisiaan kohtaan niin tunnekuohuissa kuin välinpitämättömyyden puuskissa. Brander ei teoksissaan julista eikä tuomitse. Hän vain kylmänrauhallisesti kuvittaa voimakkaimmatkin tunnekuohut voimakassisältöisiksi taideteoksiksi.

Äkkigalleria kahdessatoista Brander esittää animaatioteoksensa Purgatory.

Turkulainen graafikko Annika Dahlsten keskittyy teoksissaan ihmisen ja erityisesti naisen ja naiseuden kuvaamiseen. Hän käyttää kirkkaita värejä ja erilaisia tekstuureja esiintuodessaan tapoja joilla eri ihmisryhmiä on luokiteltu ja kohdeltu kautta historian.

Äkkigalleriassa Dahlstenilta on esillä teoksia kahdesta teossarjasta. Fire Fire ja Teepöydän ääressä -sarjan teokset ovat valmistuneet vuonna 2010.

Eeva-Mari Haikala on Lontoossa ja Helsingissä työskentelevä kuvataiteilija ja vapaa kirjoittaja. Hänen performanssiteoksensa ovat pelkistettyjä, jopa ilmeettömiä, ja humoristista katsauksia taiteilijan omaan elämään ja häntä ympäröivään kulttuuriin. Äkkigalleriassa Haikalalta on esillä dokumentaatio marraskuussa 2011 Lontoossa esitetystä performanssiteoksesta.

Arja Jäppinen on jyväskyläläinen kuvanveistäjä. Hänet tunnetaan parhaiten humoristista ja värikkäistä, reippaalla otteella tehdyistä ihmisfiguureistaan. Jäppinen nautiskelee huippuunsa trimmattujen ihmiskehojen, kuten tanssijoiden ja urheilijoiden kuvaamisesta, mutta samanlaisella antaumuksella toisintaa myös kehoistaan vieraantuneiden ihmisten kehonkieltä.

Äkkigalleriassa Jäppiseltä on esillä näyttelyä varten tehty paperimassaveistos.

Minna Suoniemi on Tampereella ja Helsingissä työskentelevä videotaiteilija. Hän tarkastelee teoksissaan ihmisiä sosiaalisina olentoina tunteineen ja estoineen. Suoniemen pelkistetyt, mutta voimakkaat videoteokset pakottavat katsojan miettimään omia tapojaan käsitellä ja ymmärtää naiseutta historiallisena ja modernina ilmiönä.

Äkkigalleriassa Suoniemellä on ensiesityksessä teos Punahilkka ja susi, sekä vuonna 2008 valmistunut Iso paha.

Pauliina Turakka-Purhonen on helsinkiläinen kuvataiteilija, jonka voimakkaat tekstiiliveistokset omakuvineen ja kulttuuri- sekä uskontohistoriallisine viittauksineen kuvaavat nykyihmisen sielunmaisemaa hektisessä ympäristössään.

Äkkigallerissa Turakka-Purhoselta on esillä useita teoksia.

Ulla Virta on jyväskyläläinen graafikko, jonka pitkä taiteilijaura on herättänyt huomiota maailmalla. Hänen vedoksensa piirtää maailmasta intohimoisen ja palavan kuvan, jossa rakkaus ja vastoinkäymiset kutoutuvat elinvoimaisiksi viivoiksi.

Äkkigalleria kahdessatoista Virralta on esillä uusi teos Liekki.

Avajaiset ovat keskiviikona 23.11. kello 17-19.
Tero Hannulan 'Anarkismi on nainen' on runoperformanssi ja ylistyslaulu naiseudelle ja vapaudelle. Esitys on luotu Äkkigalleria 12-näyttelyä varten eikä sitä tulla esittämään muissa yhteyksissä. Lauantaina 26.11 kello 18.

Äkkigalleria 12

Gummeruksenkatu 5

Avoinna 24. – 27.11. klo 13–19

Äkkigalleria 12 images

 a view of the Äkkigalleria 12 exhibition space from outside

 Pauliina Turakka Purhonen's Isä sits amongst the visitors.

 Pauliina Turakka Purhonen's Mörkö and baby sit infront of Minna Suoniemi's video Little Red Ridinghood and the Wolf. 

 Pauliina Turakka Purhonen's textile sculptures and a refelction of her painting Mörkö in the window.

 Minna Suoniemi's video Big Bad, and Pauliina Turakka Purhonen's painting in the background.

 Annika Dahlsten's Fire Fire and hidden in the corner Pauliina Turakka Purhonen's Mother and Daughter. 

 Arja Jäppinen's papermaché sculpture lies on the upper level of Äkkigalleria 12.

Ulla Virta's Liekki and Annika Dahlsten's Teepöydän ääressä. 

Pauliina Turakka Purhonen's work shines in the of Purgatory by Pirjetta Brander.

a visit from the South. Today, Pauliina Turakka-Purhonen and Kalle brought sculptures to Jyväskylä, 

and joined us for a candle lit coffee. 

 photos: Juho Jäppinen

Äkkigalleria 12 - On Fire

Äkkigalleria 12 brings together a group of seven women artists from Finland.

Being a woman is not the only attribute that brings these artists together. First and foremost, the most interesting aspect of their work is the inherent energy these artists possess: their artwork is a continuation of their breath. The artists use their work as a direct form of communication: these artists have something ardent to say, and it is said with confidence. 

Thematically, the artists are interested in people and more specifically in human relationship. For some it is the physical interaction the viewer has with the artwork, for others it is the observation of friends and family, or reactions that happen between two individuals within any given context of time and place.

Together, the seven artists express a broad spectrum of artistic mediums. Textiles, painting, sculpture, animation, printmaking, performance documentation and video work are all represented in this exhibition.

The artists’ power may come, in part, by virtue of being a woman: experiencing life within a specific social context that has influenced their nature. But more over, this is a group of strong, successful artists, whose passion in creation is on fire.

The artists of Äkkigalleria 12 are, Pirjetta Brander, Annika Dahlsten, Eeva-Mari Haikala, Arja Jäppinen, Minna Suoniemi, Pauliina Turakka-Purhonen and Ulla Virta.

For Pirjetta Brander, drawing could be considered the thread of life. Though drawing, Brander reflects on relationships: the connections that bind, infuriate, excite us and make us weep. Without porting judgment, she draws these feelings into stylized images of pure emotion.

For Äkkigalleria 12, Brander shows her animation video “Purgatory”. 

As a printmaker, Annika Dahlsten is particulariliy interested in the representation of people, and especially in women’s faces. Dahlsten uses bright colours and texture to study the way different groups of people are categorized throughout history.

For Äkkigalleria 12, Dahlsten will show a series of images from two different series made in 2010 “Fire Fire” and “Teepöydän ääressä”.

Eeva-Mari Haikala is a performative artist and writer based in both London and Helsinki. Her performances are simple and strait forward exposing humoristic (yet serious) absurdities from daily life with a stoic face. 

For Äkkgalleria 12, Haikala presents a documentary video of a recent performance shown in London (November 2011).

Arja Jäppinen is a Jyväskylä sculptor best known for her colourful, coarsely formed figures and her sense of humour. Jäppinen’s work is often inspired by movement; dance, athletics or the blatant lack there of. 

For Äkkigalleria 12, Jäppinen presents a fresh, new, papermaché sculpture.

Minna Suoniemi is a video artist working in Helsinki and Tampere. Suoniemi’s themes revolve around the observation of humans as social creatures. She has specifically studied the acceptable and unacceptable rolls of women historically and in contemporary popular culture.

For Äkkigalleria 12, Suoniemi is presenting the first viewing of her work “Punahilkka ja susi” (Little Red Riding-hood and the Wolf), a 1:30 minute video of a 9 year-old girl. 

Pauliina Turakka-Purhonen’s sculptural works are life-sized figures made from knitted or carefully sown cloth. Turakka-Purhonen uses self-portraits along with biblical and mythical figures, to quietly convey conflicting emotions of the contemporary woman.

For Äkkigalleria 12, Turakka-Purhonen is showing

Ulla Virta is a Jyväskylä printmaker whose painterly woodcuts have been noticed worldwide. Virta’s prints reveal a passion in life, through hardship and love; every line expresses vitality.

For Äkkigalleria 12 Virta presents her new print “Metsämies” (The Forest Man). 

The opening will be on Wednesday the 23^rd of November from 5 – 7pm. Guest poet Tero Hannula will perform his “Anarchy is Woman”, a song of reverence to women and freedom, on Saturday the 26^th at 6pm.

The exhibition and events are free of charge. Everyone is welcome. 

Äkkigalleria 12

Gummeruksenkatu 5

Open from the 24^th to the 27^th of November, 1 – 7pm

Äkkiperformance

On Saturday September 17th, at 8pm, passers by Lotta Roukala and Noora Pasanen perform in the Äkkigalleria 11 space, as an extention of the Äkkiresidency installation created by Inga Cholmogorova and Anthony Schrag. This sponteous performance is arranged and guided by Inga Cholmogorova.
The Äkkigalleria 11 installation invites the public to become part of the space by consciously and/or involuntarily interacting with their environment in non conform ways. The duo will push that notion just a little bit further.
The event is free of charge, everyone is welcome.
Äkkigalleria 11, Kauppakatu 4, Jyväskylä
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Inga Cholmogorova is a visual artist, performer and choreographer; she is one of this year's Äkkiresidency artists. Lotta Roukala and Noora Pasanen are both acrobats and perform with Circus Uusi Maailma.

Inga Cholmogorova + Anthony Schrag: Down the rabbit hole from anthony schrag on Vimeo.

Äkkiresidenssi interview

Listen to the full interview at the end of this post.
 

Äkki: We will start from the beginning; I was once told by a Zulu man, that your home is where you leave your umbilical cord, how would you comment on that statement?

AS: Well what is your umbilical cord, I think you can say your umbilical cord is a physical thing but you could also say that your umbilical cord is part of your life, and you loose bits of it wherever you go, and there is a long stretch of it all over the world, so I would say that yes, you loose a little bit of it in every place you live.

IC: I so agree with that! Physically yes, but mentally it is really different, or, in places where you have had more intense experiences about life; more developing as a person, then you might loose more of the cord in that place than somewhere else, like Amsterdam will always be part of my home although I am not from Amsterdam but I had a very intense period there and so much development, and because something happed to me there, and I strongly associate with that place. Although I don't have such a rooted place that I am attached to.

Äkki: Can you name a decisive moment in your career, when you decided to become an artist, or, consciously decided to make art?

AS: I ended up teaching art; I had a degree in writing and I went to the middle east to pay off my student loans. I was doing very well as a writer; I had my first book published and my novel was in discussion with my publisher, and I had done lots of poetry. But I had a really big student loan, and my Mum was living in Kuwait and she said come for a year, work and pay off a large chunk of your student loan. And I said, OK. When I got there, and because my degree is a BFA, they said, Oh, you have a Bachelor of Fine arts, can you teach art? And I went, Yeah! Yeah, I could teach art, how hard can it be! I ended up teaching art to kids who were doing A-levels, finishing high school, without any clue as to what art was, what it was for or without having spent any time with it, and then I remember going: actually, this makes more sense to me. But I think there was always a conscious choice, in the back of my head, not wanting to work for someone else, not wanting to wear a suit and tie, very conscious of that whatever I do with my life, I don't want to do something for someone else, I don’t want to have to wear I tie; I can wear I tie if I want to, but I don’t want to have to.

But consciously choosing to be an artist, I think the moment when I was at Emily Carr doing a diploma, and I did a project with knives and it worked really well: basically it was just handing out kitchen knives on the street, and people were walking down the street holding this knife. I then I realized that this is what I want to do for the rest of my life, I want to make people feel really weird for the rest of my life.

IC: I think I always wanted to be an artist when I was a child, but everybody wanted to be an artist in those days; drawing and doing artistic activities. I would be locking myself in the bathroom at night; drawing and cutting and collaging, but my parents sent me to a normal school because they were afraid of this artistic tendency of mine and they thought “oh my god the girl might go into arts!” and become an alcoholic, anti-social and broke person for the rest of her life, so they sent me to the normal school to avoid that kind of path. So I did go to normal school but I always kept arts on the side; doing things and occupying myself with finding things in the forest and polishing them, and making different kinds of sculptures out of it, and all of that. But I did various things, so I tried working and being part of society but then, as Anthony said as well, one thing I realised early on, is that I don’t want to work for anybody else, and I was very comfortable with that idea. I liked the work that I was doing, as a journalist, but then again not the newspaper or being part of the machinery, although I had a lot of freedom as well and I didn’t have to wear I tie if I didn’t want to but I wanted to be doing my own thing, and in my own interests. And then I started with photography and I think that that was when I understood that whatever is going to happen, I am going to be doing this.  So first I was working four days a week, and then making art and organizing and participating in exhibitions three days a week, and at one point I really had to choose because I had a kind of burn out, and my body said, stop, you really have to choose what want to be doing, this or that, because you cannot continue doing the two at the same time. So then I made a very conscious choice, this is it, I really want to be doing this and although It might be very uncomfortable because I have to give up a lot of things like work, money, comfortable things. And then I made the choice to go to Rietveld and I was accepted and so that was also ok. And from then on, this is it, I am doing it so we’ll see how it will go.

Äkki: There are only three more days until the opening; are you going to make it?

AS: Yeah! Course we are!

IC:  Yeah! Sure! We’re doing it!

Äkki: And now some one word answers:

Äkki: Material

AS: Hassle.

IC: Glass.

Äkki: Colour

AS: Sure. (interesting visual trick)

IC: No colour.

Äkki: Process

IC: Fascinating.

AS: Lengthy.

Äkki: Explanation

IC: Unnecessary.

AS: Necessary.

Äkki: Object

AS: Problem.

IC: Hassle.

Äkki: Country

AS: Which one?

IC: Borders?

Äkki: Home

IC: Here.

AS: Where you lay your hat.

Äkki: Art

AS: Schmart, Fart.

IC: Good.

Äkkigalleria 11: Images

Anthony Schrag and Inga Cholmogorova working on their first installation for Äkkiresidency. The installation will be open to the public on Sunday the 11th of September from 12-4pm.

photos: Juho Jäppinen

Äkki-residency: Inga Cholmogorova & Anthony Schrag

The Äkki-residency is designed to allow two artists, who have never met, the opportunity to create new work (together) in a foreign space. The intense timeframe sets this residency apart from most other artist’s residencies: the artists of the Äkki-residency have approximately two weeks to prepare and exhibit their work. The Äkki-residency is an example of the Äkkigalleria mandate; to promote creative risk taking, to find new and imaginative ways of sharing art with the public and to bring art to different public spheres by usurping existing spaces.

This year’s Äkki-residency artists are Anthony Schrag and Inga Cholmogorova. Although the artists produce very different art, certain thematic elements, such as gender, aggression, assumption, and acceptance thread through their work pulling the artists together. More over, performance, interactive art and community collaborations are fundamental in the practices of both artists.

As per the Äkki-residency mandate, the artists will meet for the first time upon arrival in Jyväskylä.  The artists will then have one week to prepare new work which will be exhibited for four days in the same space.

Anthony Schrag has a direct approach to making art. Schrag frequently uses his body as a tool; interacting with his environment in non-conform ways. Climbing a lamp-post, sitting in a door frame one metre off the ground, balancing on a wall radiator: his precarious stunts hint at alternative ways of using and observing and living in space.

Inga Cholmogorova’s work is multilayered. Cholmogorova is interested in social assumptions and taboos. She questions the ways in which certain actions and phrases are taken for granted through performance and mise-en-scenes, which usually involve the spectator.

The artists will be available to talk about their work with the public during the Cultural Orienteering event on Sunday September 11^th, from 11am - 4pm at the gallery. The exhibition opening will be held on Wednesday the 14^th of September from 17-19 pm. Everyone is welcome, there is no admission fee. 

Äkkigalleria 11, Kauppakatu 4, Jyväskylkä

opening on Wednesday the 14th at 5pm 

15. – 18.09.2011, open from 1-7pm everyday.

Äkkigalleria fall news

Äkkigalleria will be participating in Jyväskylä's Cultural Orienteering Day on Sunday the 11th of September, at a undisclosed location, soon to be announced. 

In a few week's time, Äkkigalleria will be organizing its second artist in residency "Äkkiresidenssi". This year's residency artists are Inga Cholmogorova and Anthony Schrag. An exhibition of the work produced during this short 7 day residency will be shown in Äkkigalleria 11.

More details about these events will be updated soon. 

Äkkigallerian katustipendi

(english below)
Ensimmäinen Äkkigallerian katustipendiaatti on helsinkiläinen Re-Clip. Hän työsti ralliviikonlopun aikana kaksi teosta Jyväskylän kaupunkialueelle. Teokset ovat esillä ja löydettävissä kaupunkitilasta, kunnes ne jatkavat elämäänsä muualla.

Äkkigallerian katustipendi myönnetään kekseliäästi kaupunkitilassa toimiville taiteilijoille, joiden taide on väliaikaisesti esillä aiheuttamatta pysyvää haittaa julkiselle tai yksityiselle omaisuudelle. Äkkigallerian stipendin tarkoituksena on tuoda taidetta kaupunkitilaan sekä elävöittää keskustelua julkisen tilan käytöstä.
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Äkkigalleria's first Street-grant recipient is Helsinki artist Re-Clip.  The artists created two interventions in Jyväskylä city during the rally weekend. The work will be visible until it disapears. 

The Äkkigalleria Street-grant is awarded to artists who incorporate public environment into their creations. This grant is for the creation of temporary artwork which does not damage or degrade public or private property. 
The Äkkigalleria Street-grant strives to make contemporary art an integrated and indispensible part of the city, as well as to generate discussion around the use of public space.
 

Summer surprises for Äkkigalleria

On Thursday the 30th of June 2011, in the heat of summer on the Suomen Suvi in the middle of lake Päijänne, at 12pm exactly, Äkkigalleria was awarded the Central Finnish Art Award (Keski-Suomen taidepalkinto 2011). Äkkigalleria is truly delighted to receive this recognition and would, again, like to thank all those involved in making these events happen, notably: all the artists who, at a moments notice make new work for these spontaneous exhibitions, the Jyväskylä Artists Association, Galleria Harmonia and the Jyväskylä Art Museum who lend material and equipment for the successful installation of the Äkkigalleria exhibitions, and all of our visitors and supporters who make it all worth while!!!
Thank you!

Äkkigalleria 9: Images

Äkkigalleria 9 - New Finnish National Romanticism, background "Koli" by Mikko Ijäs (in the forground Karjala)

Äkkigalleria 9 - "Runar Hölmströmin ja Puukottajan takatalvi" painting by Matti Waskilampi, and T-shirt by Sami Lukkarinen

Äkkigalleria 9, Elina Försti's Mustamaa I (Black Earth I)

Äkkigalleria 9, Kaarina Kuusisto-Lukkari's "Suomalaista pulloposti" (Finnish message in a bottle)

Äkkigalleria 9 - New Finnish National Romanticism

Äkkigalleria 9 - New Finnish National Romanticism

Äkkigalleria 9 - New Finnish National Romanticism, in a former pharmacy

Äkkigalleria 9 - "Juice Leskinen, rock ikoni" by Friidu Kahjo


Äkkigalleria 9 - T-shirt and "Minä ja Mari" painting by Sami Lukkarinen and "Koli" landscape by Mikko Ijäs


Äkkigalleria 9 - paintings by Elina Försti


Äkkigalleria 9 - "Tauko ykkönen" photography series by Jyrki Markkanen

photos: Juho Jäppinen

Äkkigalleria 9 - New Finnish Romantic Nationalism

During their 2011 spring campaign, the extreme rightwing political party “Perussuomalaiset” (The True Finns) made some thought provoking statements about the inutility of Postmodernist and experimental “artsy” art. Although these statements were very critical of the independent, creative process, they did praise the Romantic Nationalism of the early 20^th century, in which art was valued for its propaganda, idealism and the solidification of a proud, Finnish national identity. The political statements expressed a desire to cut financial aid to all postmodernist art and to support only creations which represent and glorify Finnish culture from its very essence.

Finnish art for Finns by Finns

At the turn of the 20^th century, the Romantic Nationalism movement sent artists to the outskirts of the cities to roam the countryside in search of their Finnish roots and a foundation for the future.

The results of their research helped Finland construct a national identity.

Artists transformed the poor peasant life and rugged backcountry into a story of Finnish strength and persistence in the midst of an arduous, yet beautiful landscape.

Since then, the idea of Finnish identity has diffused from these initial romantic notions into millions of different opinions.

This ninth Äkkigalleria exhibition, shows work about Finland in the 21^st century by Finnish artists about Finnish identity. What do contemporary Finnish artists see, experience, and above all, how do they represent Finland and depict Finnish identity.

And perhaps, these visions of Finnish identity might just spark an artsy flame of the Postmodernist spirit.

The exhibition’s artists are Elina Försti, Mikko Ijäs, Friidu Kahjo, Risto Kajo, Willie Lahti, Kaarina Kuusisto-Lukkari, Sami Lukkarinen, Jyrki Markkanen and Matti Waskilampi.

Äkkigalleria 9: Taiteilijat

Elina Försti

Evijärveläinen kuvataiteilija Elina Försti tunnetaan suomalaisen maaseudun modernina kuvaajana. Hänen maalauksissaan sekoittuu romanttinen suomikuva maalaisidyyleineen ja latoineen rajoja rikkovaan värinkäyttöön. Taiteilija viettelee katselijan katsomaan totuttuja suomalaismaisemia uudelta kantilta luoden näin avoimempaa tulkintaa suomalaisuudesta.

Mikko Ijäs

Jyväskylästä kotoisin oleva, Helsingissä asuva Mikko Ijäs on tunnetuimpia suomalaisia digitaalisen taiteen pioneereja. Hän käyttää työskentelyssään Applen IPhonea ja IPadiä tallentaessaan piirtäen jokapäiväistä ympäristöään. Ijäs ammentaa kuvastonsa lähiympäristöstään ja läheisistään. Hänen kuvansa pulppuavat energiaa ja lämpöä väriarkaan ympäristöönsä suomalaisessa kulttuurissa.

Friidu Kahjo

Kahjo on taiteellisessa työskentelyssään muun muassa ikonisoinut suomalaisia ‘kansallismuusikoita’ heidän suomalaista kansanluonnetta ja alkoholikulttuuria ihannoivien ja/tai kritisoivien sanoitustensa kanssa. Hänen esille nostamansa muusikot ovat osaltaan olleet luomassa suomalaisuutta, ja ovat itsekin sittemmin päätyneet osaksi suomikuvaa.

Risto Kajo

Jyväskyläläisen kuvataiteilija Risto Kajon piirrostutkielmat suomalaisesta kehosta tuo esille palsamaisen tunnelman suomalaisuudesta. Teoksien selkeys ja raju viivankäyttö piirtävät malleistaan esille enemmän kuin vain visuaalisen ulkokuoren. Jokaisessa ihmiskuvassa on mukana ihminen, usein melankolisena, ja yksinäisenä, haavoittuvana, mutta arvaamattomana.

Kaarina Kuusisto-Lukkari

Kainuulainen käsityöläinen ja taiteilija Kaarina Kuusisto-Lukkari tuo esille vuonna 2006 valmistuneessa teoksessaan tuntemuksiaan ja kokemuksiaan yhdestä suomalaisuuden kulmakivistä ja perisynneistä, viinan juonnista. Teoksessa olevat pullot toimivat kuin muistomerkkeinä kadotetuille sieluille mutta kietoutuvat voimakkaasti myös jokapäiväiseen arkeemme.

Willie Lahti

Willie Lahti on Yhdysvalloista lähtöisin oleva Jyväskylään kotoutunut Suomen kansalainen. Päivätyönään baarimestarina toimiva taiteilija on saanut erinomaisen paikan tarkkailla suomalaista alkoholikulttuuria ja sen lieveilmiöitä. Humoristisen mutta pohjimmiltaan vakavan kuvakielen avulla hän esiin nostaa huomioitaan nykypäivän Suomesta.

Sami Lukkarinen

Sami Lukkarinen on jyväskyläläislähtöinen helsinkiläistynyt kuvataiteilija, joka on suomalaisia uranuurtaja digitaalisen muotokielen tuomisessa maalaustaiteen kenttään. Lukkarisen öljyväreillä toteutetut ‘pikselimaalaukset’ kirkoista ovat sittemmin siirtyneet myös sisällöltään lähemmäksi digitaalista maailmaa, kun taiteilija on alkanut maalamaan internetin kuvamaailmasta löytämiään suomalaisia henkilökuvia. Lukkarinen siirtää arkista sähköistä kuvamaailmaa perinteisen kuvataiteen korkeakulttuuriksi miellettyyn kenttään.

Jyrki Markkanen

Valokuvaaja ja graafikko Jyrki Markkasen valokuvamaailma perustaa tekniikan taiturimaiseen käyttöön ja tarkkaan visuaaliseen tyylitajuun. Hänen kuvat katoavasta suomalaisesta maaseudusta baareineen ja huoltoasemineen sekä dokumentoi Suomea, mutta myös pyrkii tuomaan tietoisuuteen ja pelastamaan näitä ränsistyviä ja katoavia aarteita maaseudulta ja kaupungeista.

Matti Waskilampi

Viitasaarelainen Matti Waskilampi on taiteilijanurallaan ollut oman tiensä kulkija ja järkkymätön yhteiskuntatarkkailija ja -kriitikko, jonka kuvalliset teokset kertovat tarinoita nykysuomesta ja maailmasta yleisesti. Hän nostaa esille uutisvirroista ajankohtaisia, mutta yleiseen hälyyn häviäviä tarinoita, ja tuo ne uudelleen esille maalaustensa kautta.

Äkkigalleria 9 - Suomalaista uuskansallisromantiikkaa

Suomalaista taidetta suomalaisista suomalaisille

Kansallisromantiikan ajan taiteilijat hakeutuivat kaupunkien laidoille, maaseudulle ja erämaihin etsimään ja löytämään suomalaisen identiteetin juuria ja tulevaisuuden perustaa. Heidän työnsä tuloksena suomalaiset löysivät päämäärän suomalaisuudelleen. Taiteilijat muuttivat maaseudun köyhyyden ja rajaseutujen karuuden yhtenäiseksi tarinaksi suomalaisista periksi antamattomana ja itsenäisenä kansana ankaran, mutta kauniin luonnon keskellä.

Sittemmin suomalaisen identiteetin rakennusaineet ovat pirstaloituneet muutamasta haaveellisesta mielikuvasta miljooniksi mielikuviksi.

Äkkigallerian yhdeksäs näyttely luo nyt katseen 2000-luvun suomalaiseen elämänmenoon. Millaisena nykypäivän kuvataiteilijat näkevät ja kokevat, ja ennen kaikkea, millä tavalla he tuovat esille oman mielikuvansa Suomesta ja suomalaisuudesta.

Suomalaisuudessa saattaa pilkahtaa postmodernin henki.

Näyttelyyn osallistuvat Elina Försti, Mikko Ijäs, Friidu Kahjo, Risto Kajo, Kaarina Kuusisto-Lukkari, Willie Lahti, Sami Lukkarinen, Jyrki Markkanen ja Matti Waskilampi

Kauppakatu 13, Jyväskylä

avoinna to 19.05. – su 22.05.2011 klo 13 – 19

Avoin teoshaku: Suomalaista uuskansallisromantiikkaa

Suomalaista taidetta suomalaisista suomalaisille

Kansallisromantiikan ajan taiteilija hakeutui kaupunkien laidoille, maaseudulle ja erämaihin etsimään ja löytämään suomalaisen identiteetin juuria ja tulevaisuuden perustaa. Näiden taiteilijoiden työn tuloksena suomalaiset löysivät päämäärän suomalaisuudelleen. Taiteilijat muuttivat maaseudun köyhyyden ja rajaseutujen karuuden yhtenäiseksi tarinaksi suomalaisuudesta periksi antamattomana ja itsenäisenä kansana ankaran, mutta kauniin luonnon keskellä.

Sittemmin suomalaisen identiteetin rakennusaineet ovat pirstaloituneet muutamasta haaveellisesta mielikuvasta miljooniksi mielikuviksi.

Haluamme nyt luoda katseen perussuomalaiseen elämän menoon. Haluamme nähdä suomalaisuuden koko kuvan. Haluamme nähdä suomalaisia elämässä suomalaista elämää vuosituhannen vaihteen jälkeisessä Suomessa. Haluamme esitellä suomalaista taidetta suomalaisista suomalaisille.

Perussuomalaisuudessa saattaa pilkahtaa yllättäen postmoderni ajatus.

Lähettäkää teos- ja/tai projekti-ehdotuksenne osoitteella akkigalleria(at)gmail.com 1.5.2011 mennessä. Teos/teokset tulee pystyä toteuttamaan nopeassa aikataulussa.

Äkkigalleria 2011 - call for artists and project proposals

Äkkigalleria is holding a continuous call for artists from March 1^st through August 1^st, 2011. We are looking for artists interested in, or projects/artwork related to the following topics:

Wall Art: we are specifically looking for artists interested in reproducing or creating new ephemeral work directly onto a vertical wall surface. The will most likely be temporary and artist must understand that the work may not physically exist other than through documentation.

If you are interested in participating in an exhibition this year, your proposals must be submitted before May 1^st, 2011.

Water: we are looking for any artwork/projects that consider the use, function, importance and necessity of water. We are particularly interested in politically charged work, however other approaches will also be considered.

If you are interested in participating in an exhibition this year, your proposals must be submitted before August 1^st, 2011.

Other: we are always interested in hearing about your ideas and projects. Please feel free to send us information about your work at anytime: there is no deadline.

Projects will be selected throughout this time period from both project proposals and directly through project invitations. All project proposals will be considered and archived for future reference, even if they are not immediately chosen for these specific themes. The deadlines are meant as light guidelines and are subject to modification.

Proposals are free form and projects descriptions are accepted in Finnish, English, and French. Please include some kind of imagery with your proposal to :

akkigalleria(at)gmail.com

Äkkigalleria 8 - Images

The opening of Landscape Now coincided with Juho Jäppinen's (co-founder of Äkkigalleria) birthday. Here the guests are spurred into spontaneous song.

AntarcTIC by Tuukka Toijanniemi shines through guests at the opening.

Lanscape: a window-view from Äkkigalleria 8.

**all photos taken by Juho Jäppinen unless otherwise stated.

Äkkigalleria 8 – Landscape now

Äkkigalleria 8 is a low-key, comforting exhibition that takes us close into the moment of now.

The participating artists are: Anita Hannunen, Jonna Jantunen, Kapa, Carita Savolainen, Rune Snellman, and Tuukka Toijanniemi. All of the artists are from Central Finland. The work in this exhibition consists of drawing, printing, painting, photography, sound and light installation.

Anita Hannunen is a Central Finnish painter. For the past decade, her work focuses on the representation of the typical Finnish lakeside landscape. Muted tones and rich texture modify the familiar landscape into deep contrasts in cool colours. Hannunen’s images expose the hidden nature, or the sensed temperament of this seemingly placid environment.

For Äkkigalleria 8, Hannunen has made a new series of winter landscapes which focus on the quiet, cold, dark and beauty of this season.

Kapa is an established Central Finnish photographer, founder and long time member of the Centre for Creative Photography. His experimental photography techniques often combine photographic images with found objects of historical or personal meaning. Kapa’s current practice deals primarily in digital photography. He observes and captures moments from his environment: cropping and directing the general regard to focus on specific elements of our daily landscape.

For Äkkigalleria 8, Kapa was invited to show a new breathtaking landscape-image, captured during a recent residency in Northern Yorkshire, England. Kapa will also present an older, and more colourful series of small images, taken during a residency in Benin 2003, that have never been shown in Central Finland.

Jonna Jantunen is a young Central Finnish printmaker, working with a broad range of printing techniques including, lithography, dry-point etching, mezzotint, woodcut, carborundum, and photo etching. Jantunen’s aesthetic for colour and texture naturally form sensitive landscape imagery that often serves as the background for her creations. Though calculated experimentation, combining different printing techniques, she represents instances suspended in time, like stills from movie; moments from a larger story.

For Äkkigalleria 8, Jantunen has made a series of new images on the theme of Landscape.

Rune Snellman is an established Central Finnish photographer, long time member of the Centre for Creative Photography, and passionate coordinator of the Jyväskylä pinhole camera club. Snellman currently works with both digital photography and pinhole techniques. During the past decade, his digital images have primarily examined nature and landscapes featuring portraits of decaying flowers and fruit and broad panoramas of landscapes from all over the world.

For Äkkigalleria 8, Snellman is presenting a new series of images inspired by the winter snow. With these images Snellman explores a new kind of panorama-landscape by enlarging details observed from his winter wonderland.

Carita Savolainen is an international painter who studied and lived in France for many years before moving to Belgium. She now lives and works in both in her hometown, Jyväskylä, and in Brussels where she she now resides. Savolainen’s practice is rooted in the observation of Landscape. Her paintings explore colour and feeling generated from lakeside landscapes where sky and water merge.

Savolainen responded to the Äkkigalleria 8 invitation with two brand new projects. Maisema: huone I-IV (Landscape: room I-IV) are a series of drawings inspired by the outside views from her windows at home. In these images are both observed and imagined (dreamed) visions of her environment. The images combine imagined landscape with drawing from observation. Savolainen’s second project is a site-specific installation, Visit my garden, which invites the visitor along for a walk in her neighbourhood park by means of a mirror.

Tuukka Toijanniemi is a Central Finnish artist working with a divers array of materials and techniques, but specializes in light, neon and sound installations. With line he creates simplified forms which allude to various themes. Toijanniemi’s installations glow in an eerie atmosphere: a darkness created by light.

Toijanniemi will show a neon work, AntarcTIC, from 2006 which will be shown in Jyväskylä for the first time. Along with this light installation he will also present a more recent soundscape.