Äkkigalleria

Äkkigalleria 13 exhibition invitation

2012-01-20T13:23:00.000-08:00

You are welcome to join us for the opening at Kauppakatu 5–6, 6pm.
This Äkkiresidency was arranged by Äkkigalleria in collaboration with the Jyväskylä Centre for Creative Photography.

Äkkiresidency interview with Antoine Meyer

2012-01-15T13:37:00.000-08:00

Äkkigalleria interview with Antoine Meyer on Sunday January 15^th, 2012.

Äkki: This is your first time in Jyväskylä and after five days in Finland, your first sauna and a snow bath, what are your first impressions of Jyväskylä (Finland)?

AM: It is not as cold as I thought it would be. And the snow angel, is a terrific experience! Suomi land seems like a place worth living in, especially when you come from a noisy and messy country like Belgium.

Äkki: How much have your expectations influenced your observation of Finnish culture?

AM: Very little I think, because some of the only things I knew about Finland were told by Aki Kaurismäki’s movies which have a fabulous yet real atmosphere. I only expected to feel that what is called North could become South in a few hours. And with this I am fully satisfied.

Äkki: And have you found the Kaurismäki atmosphere here?

AM: No absolutely not. And his last movie is a good example of that because it takes place in France and the atmosphere is very close. If his films would take place in Spain I think the atmosphere would be exactly the same.

Äkki: The Äkkiresidency differs from typical artist residencies in several ways, notably in the short length of time and in the nomadic exhibition space, how do these factors affect your working process?

AM: Twenty days is not so short! As a kind of nomad, myself, I just feel at home with this way of working. Looking for a place to make a show while working on the content is a very good way to meet the people and become acquainted with the place.

Äkki: We still do not have a confirmed exhibition space for you. How important, or what importance does the exhibition space have to your work?

AM: it is difficult to answer this question because what does important mean? Important can be so relative. As a permanent walker, the exhibition space primarily represents a break, but the place itself does not have a real importance; although it is the potential value of transforming the space which is significant to me.

Äkki: A lot of your work observes urban landscapes, compositions that are made from complicated or busy atmospheres. With careful choice of focal point and focus you have created very still, almost frozen moments out of chaos. Are the photographs you have made here in this same spirit, or has the less urban environment of Jyväskylä had a greater impact on your work?

AM: I would say that when I am discovering a new environment, a kind of ethnologist grows in me and I starting feeling more focused on having a comprehension of what is happening, than what I could do with it. The works you mentioned were mostly taken in Brussels. It’s a lovely and quite chaotic city. These specific characteristics you have described are from places I know well, and have gone back to, they have been fine-tuned. But here, it’s a research and the result will probably look more “raw”.

Äkki: The use of light and colour in your photographs is very seductive. Can you tell me about your earliest memory of light and/or colour?

AM: unfortunately I cannot, because the memory itself is surrounded and invaded by photographs. Of course, these images were taken by parents and friends not by myself. But to give an answer I could say that my first memory is an 8mm film showing a pack of us kids playing around a construction site. All I can tell is that we had a pretty good time and a lot of freedom. About the colours, it’s the Fuji’s 8mm rolls of film tint is so seductive, I might have been influenced by these.

Äkki: And what about your earliest memory of art or photography as art?

AM: I think it is better to talk about my first memory of visiting an exhibition. This was Sam Francis’ show with huge paintings, may be about 10m high canvases, in the city of Toulouse (south of France). At this time, the Museum of Modern Art was still located in a temporary place and they had had to cut holes in the roof so that some of the paintings could fit in the room. I had only one question in my mind: had the painter himself been informed of this strange situation?

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

AM: I spent some pretty boring high school years and I remember the day we studied the event of May 1968 (France) in history class. I remember the precise moment the teacher told us that we could not say it was a revolution because no one died during the events. And that day, I decided that I while most of my classmates would go on to become engineers, I had to make some kind of art.

Äkki: You have about two more weeks of time left in Finland, and you will be preparing a show of your work in a still undisclosed location, can you give us any hints about your exhibition?

AM: I will try to re-watch the Alfred Hitchcock film “North by Northwest” before...

In France, people often ask me the time in English as if I were Scottish or Irish. I was always considered as a Northern man. However, at school I first studied Spanish and I am glad that I am experiencing how it feels being a Southern man. But that’s my personal experience.

About the show all I can say, is that I am very curious about “sisu”.

Äkki: And now some one word/short answers:

Äkki: Material

AM: wood

Äkki: Colour

AM: blue

Äkki: Process

AM: printing

Äkki: Explanation

AM: silence

Äkki: Object

AM: scissors

Äkki: Country

AM: Uzbekistan

Äkki: Future

AM: social

Äkki: Art

AM: warm-up

This Äkkiresidency was arranged by Äkkigalleria in collaboration with the Jyväskylä Centre for Creative Photography.

Äkkigalleria 13

2012-01-14T13:58:00.000-08:00

Äkkigalleria starts the year with an Äkkiresidency! Photographer Antoine Meyer, is currently in Jyväskylä until the end of January. Some time near the end of the month the fruits of his adventures here will be shown somewhere.
More information to come within the next week.

photo: Juho Jäppinen

This Äkkiresidency was arranged by Äkkigalleria in collaboration with the Jyväskylä Centre for Creative Photography.

Äkkigalleria 12 - poetry performance by Tero Hannula

2011-11-30T02:48:00.000-08:00

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.

and here is the link to the performance.

Äkkigalleria 12 - Tulessa

2011-11-23T12:27:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-17T09:07:00.000-08:00

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.

Äkkigalleria 12 - On Fire

2011-11-15T12:52:00.000-08:00

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

2011-09-16T11:19:00.000-07:00

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.

2011-09-16T11:13:00.000-07:00

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

Äkkiresidenssi interview

2011-09-13T06:42:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-10T13:34:00.000-07:00

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.

Äkki-residency: Inga Cholmogorova & Anthony Schrag

2011-09-02T05:06:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-15T11:44:00.000-07:00

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

2011-07-30T13:01:00.000-07:00

(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

2011-07-01T03:32:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-23T05:43:00.001-07:00

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

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

photograph: Juho Jäppinen

Äkkigalleria 9, Elina Försti's Mustamaa I (Black Earth I)
photograph: Juho Jäppinen

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

Äkkigalleria 9 - New Finnish National Romanticism
photograph: Juho Jäppinen

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

photograph: Juho Jäppinen

Äkkigalleria 9 - "Juice Leskinen, rock ikoni" by Friidu Kahjo
photograph: Juho Jäppinen

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

Äkkigalleria 9 - paintings by Elina Försti
photograph: Juho Jäppinen

Äkkigalleria 9 - "Tauko ykkönen" photography series by Jyrki Markkanen
photograph: Juho Jäppinen

Äkkigalleria 9 - New Finnish Romantic Nationalism

2011-05-16T23:43:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-16T23:31:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-13T12:08:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-10T11:32:00.000-08:00

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

2011-02-15T05:16:00.000-08:00

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

2011-01-27T03:36:00.001-08:00

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

2011-01-24T11:45:00.000-08:00

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.

Äkkigalleria 8

2011-01-12T01:16:00.000-08:00

In this bleak time of year, after the party and festivities, after the guests have gone back home; we are left with the beautiful calm of winter, to consider the space and quiet around us.

In this line of reflection, Äkkigalleria 8 presents an exhibition on the theme of Landscape:

Landscape as the space that opens up when we step outside our door.

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

The opening will be held on Wednesday the 26^th of January at 5 – 7pm. Everyone is welcome.

Äkkigalleria 8 – Maisema nyt

Yliopistonkatu 26C (previously Kehystämö Patina)

January 27^th to 30^th, 2011

Happy New Year 2011

2011-01-07T12:30:00.000-08:00

..and now that all the celebrations are out of the way- (including the inauguration of Jyväskylä's new permanent Gallery: Galleria Patina!!**) Äkkigalleria is getting ready to welcome this new year in a more calm and serene manner- with Äkkigalleria's 8th exhibition, coming soon to a central location in Jvyäskylä!
** Patina is now located in what was Äkkigalleria 4 in May 2010.

Äkkijoulu

2010-12-08T01:01:00.000-08:00

..a little something special before the end of the year...

Harald Karsten: view of the installation Merry Christmas all the Year (Säynätsalo 2008)

Äkkigalleria presents: Harald Karsten’s installation: Merry Christmas all the Year on December 21^st and 22^nd, from 3:30-8pm, at Galleria Hoppa.

Äkkigalleria has chosen to present this installation on the winter solstice to celebrate the rebirth of light. The week before Christmas has often become a hectic time of preparation and general consumerism. Just for one moment Äkkigalleria invites passers by to step into another universe, a place of magic, hope, beauty and chimes.

Äkkigalleria, in cooperation with Galleria Hoppa and Vakiopaine, wishes you all a very festive season.

Äkkigalleria 6 - thank you

2010-11-30T04:23:00.000-08:00

Once again we would like to thank everyone for helping make Äkkigalleria 6 a truly fantastic experience! Especially special thanks goes to all of the participating artist, to Korjaamo Galleria, all of the volunteer performers for Nastja Rönkkö's piece: Mikko Jäppinen, Jarkko Kaurismäki, Panu Kivi, Ville Mattila, and Ossi Paananen as well as to the dancers from the closing performance: Elsa and Malwiina Heikkilä!
A special thanks also goes out to Ulla Ourila of the Drama Gallery for cooperation in renting the space for Äkkigalleria 6. (and note the beautiful high ceiling-ed, clean space is now available for long term rental)
Without forgetting to thank Äkkigalleria's Assistant Director, Juho Jäppinen,and his full time employer Jussi Jäppinen Ky, who allowed flexible work hours and several days of partial-leave during the preparation and closing of Äkkigalleria 6.
Thank you!!

Äkkigalleria 6 - closing performance

2010-11-25T11:44:00.002-08:00

Sunday the 28th of November is the last day of Äkkigalleria 6. At 5:30pm Äkkigalleria will present "a work in progress" by Elsa and Malwiina Heikkilä. This will be the very first taste of their up coming duet scheduled for production in 2011. The performance will last approximately 10 minutes.

Everyone is welcome to Äkkigalleria 6, for this free dance performance in celebration of the last day of Äkkigalleria 6!

Äkkigalleria 6 - Images

2010-11-25T00:12:00.001-08:00

Äkkigalleria 6

Äkkigalleria 6 - exhibition view on main floor, artwork form left to right: photographs by Heidi Romo, sculpture by Jasu Salmi, sculpture by Eeva-Liisa Sorainen, cereal boxes by Jani Leinonen

Äkkigalleria 6 - live sculpture by Jasu Salmi

Äkkigalleria 6 - Mustard Gas by Riiko Sakkinen

Äkkigalleria 6 - installation by Christelle Mas

Äkkigalleria 6 - reflections of Jani Leinonen's cereal boxes and Eeva-Liisa Sorainen's bread-house, in Heidi Romo's photograph Paradise (2010)

Äkkigalleria 6 - closing performance by Elsa and Malwiina Heikkilä

Äkkigalleria 6 - Christmas table by Pekka Suomäki (2010)

Äkkigalleria 6 - the after math of "Boys" a performance by Nastja Rönkkö

Äkkigalleria 6 window display- cereal boxes by Jani Leinonen

Performance by Nastja Rönkkö on the opening night.

Leipäpuu by Eeva-Liisa Sorainen

Äkkigalleria 6 - opening night programme

2010-11-18T00:20:00.000-08:00

Äkkigalleria will open on Wednesday the 24th of November.
The exhibition will be open from 1pm until 7pm but the opening festivities will begin at 5pm.
The opening night programme includes the performance "Boys" choreographed by Nastja Rönkkö which will present its world premiere at 5:30pm sharp. This performance magnifies social expectations as it physically shows the degradation of manners and in the artist's own words:

Boys is a playful attempt to de-construct our appropriations of social gestures, languages and etiquettes.

During the opening night Christelle Mas will also offer a low-key poetry performance. And it will be possible to eat some of the art along with the opening refreshments.

Everyone is welcome:
Äkkigalleria 6 - I'm Hungry for Art
Kilpisenkatu 7, Jyväskylä

Äkkigalleria 6 - I'm Hungry for Art

2010-10-21T10:45:00.001-07:00

Äkkigalleria presents its sixth exhibition in Jyväskylä at the end of November 2010.

This exhibition’s eight artists are Jani Leinonen (Helsinki), Christelle Mas (French, living in Helsinki), Heidi Romo (Helsinki), Nastja Rönkkö (Central-Finnish, living in London, UK), Riiko Sakkinen (Finnish living in Cervera de los Montes, Spain), Jasu Salmi (Hämeenlinna), Eeva-Liisa Sorainen (Äänekoski), Pekka Suomäki (Korpilahti).

This Äkkigalleria exhibition coincides with the beginning of Advent. As with most festivals food is one of the conglomerating ingredients. Äkkigalleria has taken advantage of this coincidence and made “Food” the theme for this exhibition. The projects chosen for this exhibition are made with/from edible ingredients, performances made with food and other artwork made about consumption/nutrition.

In congruity with Äkkigalleria’s mission, most of the work shown, in Äkkigalleria 6, is new and none of the work has ever previously been shown in Central Finland.

Jani Leinonen is an established Helsinki based artist. Leinonen works in a variety of media in the development of specific projects that deal with advertisement, fame, consumerism and the representation (and power) of pop icons.

For this Äkkigalleria exhibition, Leinonen presents his silkscreened cereal-boxes which cleverly and subtly alter existing cereal-box designs and the meaning of the designs.

Christelle Mas is a young French artist currently studying in Helsinki. She works primarily with food as subject and material for her creations. Mas is interested in the transformation of food during both growth and consumption, and is particularly fascinated by both the positive and negative effects food can have on the human body.

In my projects, instead of confirming this vital aspect, I want to give food a shadowy or ambiguous appearance. We have heard of genetically modified organisms and food-related health problems, but could it make our own body mutate as well? I envisage food as a flexible fictional material. In how many ways can I transform it?

For this exhibition Mas will show photographic, video and installation work. This versatile artist will also share poems in a low-key performance during the opening.

Heidi Romo is a Helsinki based visual artist working in photography, video and painting. Although staged, her paintings and photographs often allude to an action or performance. The human body is a reoccurring medium for the expression of different subjects.

For this Äkkigalleria exhibition, Romo will show two new series of photographs in which the human presence is represented by plastic dolls. Both series reflect on symbolic and psychological implications of different foods as represented in today’s occidental culture.

Nastja Rönkkö is a young Central Finnish artist currently working on an MFA in London. Rönkkö is interested in the physical sensuality of paint and the romantic history of painting. Alongside painting she also uses installations and performances to explore thoughts of passion and desire. Reoccurring symbols include horses, hair, cakes, and the breast.

For this exhibition, Rönkkö presents a fresh new performance entitled Boys. This piece references traditional Finnish literature as it touches on the theme of domesticating human nature. The performance however, also magnifies social expectations as it physically shows the degradation of manners.

Boys is a playful attempt to de-construct our appropriations of social gestures, languages and etiquettes.

Riiko Sakkinen is an established Finnish artist who currently lives with his family in Spain. His work revolves around potentially volatile subjects, which he knowingly treats in the most innocent way. These subjects are largely about consumption, and consequently in part about food. Sakkinen works in numerous mediums, but is perhaps best known for his drawings, which often represent advertisement and food packaging icons along with various slogans.

For this Äkkigalleria exhibition, Sakkinen will show the sculptural work “Mustard Gas”**. Sakkinen strategically chose this work to be shown in Central Finland during this pre-Christmas period when the use of mustard is most popular.

** Riiko Sakkinen is represented by Korjaamo Galleria. The work shown by Sakkinen in this show has been brought to us through Korjaamo Galleria. Korjaamo Galleria shows new Finnish art and contemporary international art: photography, video work as well as painting. Korjaamo Gallery also commissions and produces artwork in cooperation with various artists.

Korjaamo Galleria’s exhibition programme is composed of emerging artists and established artists. One of Korjaamo Galleria’s missions is to continuously search for and find new perspectives from fresh new artists.

Jasu Salmi is a self-taught artist and artisan currently living and working in Hämeenlinna. His carefully crafted jewellery and sculptures often hint at a darker side of religion. Salmi’s work can be described as having a gothic edge, he often uses ancient symbols charged with meaning: five pointed stars, crosses, crescent moons.

For this exhibition Salmi presents two pieces made specifically for Äkkigalleria 6. In this new work Salmi expresses a strong critique on the consumption of religion and beliefs through the use of shaped jelly, and dead flies.

Eeva-Liisa Sorainen is a local artist currently living and working in Äänekoski. Sorainen comes from a strong background in sculptural work. In recent years she has concentrated on the perfection in leatherwork skills and currently runs her own harness and saddle business.

Although food and edible materials have not been part of her artistic practice, Sorainen rose to the occasion of Äkkigalleria 6 to sculpt and discover new materials. For this exhibition she will present work made from stale bread.

Pekka Suomäki is a Korpilahti artist. His work primarily deals with the passage of time and the transformation of Finnish culture and environment over time. With a photography background, Suomäki’s work often includes transferred images on found objects and usually consists of slightly appropriated ready-mades. Suomäki’s sensitive sense of humour allows him to treat very serious subjects subtly, in a non-threatening way.

For this exhibition, Suomäki will present two new pieces created specifically for Äkkigalleria 6: Christmas Table, and Eat Your Words. Both pieces deal with different aspects of edible art, Christmas Table deals directly with the concept of consuming and consumerism while Eat Your Words is a political commentary on the contemporary controversy of teasing in schools.

Äkkigalleria 5: Nomadic Recoils

2010-09-13T11:50:00.000-07:00

Roy Hopiavuori Äkkigalleria 5

Christian Nicolay Äkkigalleria 5 : Nomadic Recoils

Roy Hopiavuori and Christian Nicolay Äkkigalleria 5 : Nomadic Recoils

Roy Hopiavuori Äkkigalleria 5 : Nomadic Recoils

Christian Nicolay Äkkigalleria 5 : Nomadic Recoils

The Future Roots play at the opening of Äkkigalleria 5 : Nomadic Recoils

Roy Hopiavuoren Haastattelu

2010-08-29T23:50:00.000-07:00

Äkki: Terve Roy!
R.Hopiavuori: Moy!

Äkki: Olet ollut Suomessa nyt --- vuotta. Mikä on ensivaikutelmasi?

R.Hopiavuori: Olen ollut Suomessa lähes koko ikäni. Teini-iässä asuin jonkin aikaa vakituisesti Tukholmassa isäni luona.

Äkki: Entä Jyväskylästä, jossa olet ilmeisesti ollut merkittävästi lyhyemmän aikaa?

R.Hopiavuori: Jyväskylässä on käyty silloin ja tällöin lapsesta asti. Kaunis kaupunki, mukavia tyyppejä.

Äkki: Olet kokenut kuvataiteilija ja olet pitänyt runsaasti näyttelyitä Suomessa ja ulkomailla. Oletko aiemmin osallistunut taideresidensseihin?

R.Hopiavuori: En. Taidan olla aavistuksen erakko. Näyttelyn järkkääminen ulkomaille/lla kyllä omaa samoja piirteitä, kuin Äkkiresidenssi.

Äkki: Sinut kutsuttiin ensimmäiseen Äkkigallerian residenssiin. Millä tavalla Äkkigallerian residenssi eroaa aiemmista residenssi- ja näyttelykokemuksistasi?

R.Hopiavuori: Aika kotoisat fiilikset. Paljon duunia vähän aikaa. Tuttu tilanne!

Äkki:Pääsit tutustumaan näyttely-ja työskentelytilaan kahdeksan päivää ennen näyttelyn avajaisia. Mikä oli ensimmäinen ajatuksesi tilasta?

R.Hopiavuori: Sitä on paljon!!! Monta huonetta alakerrassa/ maan alla/ kellarissa! Olen aina pitänyt maanalaisista tiloista mikä on vähän ristiriidassa lievän klaustrofobiani kanssa...

Äkki: Tuntuuko vielä samalta?

R.Hopiavuori: Sataprosenttisesti.

Äkki: Tapasit samalla ensimmäistä kertaa toisen residenssiin osallistuvan kanadalaistaiteilijan, Christian Nicolayn. Suunnittelitteko tilan jakoa/käyttöä? Onko tiedossa yhteisteoksia? Muuta mukavaa?

R.Hopiavuori: Jep, tilat laitettiin jakoon ja mahd. yhteisduunit hoidetaan keskiviikkona. Eli tämä on vielä auki.

Äkki: Oletko ehtinyt katua vauhdikkaaseen projektiin mukaan lähtemistä, eli tekisitkö nyt jotain toisin?

R.Hopiavuori: En ole katunut, mutta ensi kerralla roudaan rva Hopiavuoren designtuotteita ympäri kaupunkia näyttelyyn valmistautuessani aavistuksen nihkeämmin ;)=

Äkki: Unettomia öitä, ylityöllistymistä, paniikkioireita, perheongelmia. Luuletko, että Äkkiresidenssillä on muutakin tarjottavaa taideuraasi silmällä pitäen?

R.Hopiavuori: Minulla on jo nuo kaikki muut paitsi perheongelmat. Hahaa!,sitä odotellessa. Vakavammin: Saan varmasti Christianin kautta uusia kontakteja Kanadaan. Niitä ei muutamaa sukulaista lukuun ottamatta olekaan.

Äkki: Ja muutama lyhyt:

Äkki: Suosikkimateriaali?
R.Hopiavuori: Hmmm... mieli?? Okei, olen maalari.

Äkki: Väri?
R.Hopiavuori: Sateenkaari :)=

Äkki: Vaikuttava teos?
R.Hopiavuori: Harryn Fish Island jutut. Panu Ruotsalon The End of River

Äkki: Avajaiset neljän päivän kuluttua. Paljonko teoksia vielä tekemättä/työtä jäljellä?

R.Hopiavuori: Noin 5 kpl kesken, mutta rotta on tehokkaimmillaan nurkkaan ajettuna...

Äkki: Suuret kiitokset haastattelusta!

Interview with Christian Nicolay

2010-08-29T23:42:00.000-07:00

Äkki: Hello Christian.

C.Nicolay: Ole Hyvä.

Äkki: You have been in Finland for seven full days now. What were and are your first impressions?

C.Nicolay: Surprised by the nature (in a good way). It kind of feels like home. And, I think the Finnish language is exquisite.

Äkki: And what about Jyväskylä, where you have been for most of your stay?

C.Nicolay: The train ride felt like my hitchhiking experience across Canada: nature, space and quiet. As soon as I got here, I expected it to look older, but seeing is sometimes an illusion and there is a lot of character here. Like any new place it is full of new things and these new things like cracks in the cobble stones, the smell of the weather and it’s all very- I feel very much at home. And the people look you in the eye and I enjoy that because in Vancouver nobody looks you in the eye!

Äkki: You are obviously an experienced/established artist; you are represented by at least one gallery, and you have shown internationally, but have you participated in many artist residencies?

C.Nicolay: No. This is my first international residency. My other residencies have only been in Canada: Toronto, Kelowna, Edmonton. I am about to do my second residency in Taiwan, when I leave Finland. But this is my first.

Äkki: You have been invited to participate in Äkkigalleria’s first artist residency. In what way or ways does this residency differ (or not) from your past experience of an artist residency?

C.Nicolay: Well this is all really new work. Everything is from scratch, everything is made over ten days. It is intense. I don’t have a lot of my tools so I am forced to play with the environment of Jyväskylä and what it provides which is something- it is a process I am exited about. To blur the lines of what is comfortable.

Äkki: You first discovered the residency and exhibition space ten days before the exhibition opening, What were your first impressions of the space?

C.Nicolay: Ole Hyvä!

Äkki: Do you still feel the same?

C.Nicolay: Ummm, maybe it has become more- a lot of possibility for installation because of how the space is compartmentalized like a labyrinth you can get lost in. We went in there and there were all kinds of treasures and smells. It is a space that hasn’t been used in a long time and to have this opportunity to transform it all, it is a nice way of working.

Äkki: A few days ago you met the other residency artist Roy Hopiavuori, how will you share the space? Will you collaborate on a piece or do you have any plans as of yet?

C.Nicolay: time is potentially a fabrication of our current perception of reality. We don’t have a lot of time, but I look forward to any kind of spontaneous collaboration with Roy. I think his work will hit a cord, or frequency with mine. To work with someone collaborating is always fund and stretches my own process.

Äkki: Do you regret agreeing to participate in this short-time-framed-project? Would you do anything differently? Would you do it again?

C.Nicolay: Ole hyvä! I wouldn’t change anything! I’ve been having the loveliest time here and I am still in the process of finding out what is happening with the work. The work is in process so I don’t know if I would change anything- but maybe the weather…

Äkki: Sleepless nights, working overtime, panic attacks… etc Do you think Äkkigalleria has anything else to offer your artistic career?

C.Nicolay: Every person, every moment everything is tied to who I am and of course it offers a lifetime of memory. I never would have come to this part of the world and it is amazing!

Äkki: and some one word questions and answers:

Material: tar

Colour: white

Process: 31-7= 28

Explanation: no mater what, my beard grows.

Äkki: the opening is in four days, how much more work do you have?

C.Nicolay: Two answers: one: Als ist gut. And two: x 2

Äkki: Thank you Christian.

C.Nicolay: Ole Hyvä.

Äkkigalleria 5 Artist Residency for 2

2010-08-21T11:58:00.000-07:00

Posted packaged residency material - Christian Nicolay

After almost one year of existence, Äkkigalleria is organizing its first artist residency. Christian Nicolay from Vancouver, Canada and Roy Hopiavuori from Helsinki, Finland will be arriving in Jyväskylä on the 20^th of August. The two artists, who will be meeting for the first time upon their arrival, will spend about 10 days creating Äkkigalleria’s 5^th exhibition insitu.

Nicolay is interested in sound and process based performance. Experimentation and exploration are important tools in his artistic practice, which is not bound by any one medium. Hopiavuori, on the other hand, is a painter. His expressive, monochromatic painting is calmed by stencils and symbols which remind us of our own mortality.

Although politics are not the focus of their work, both Nicolay and Hopiavuori often make art with a politically critical slant. Their creations routinely express a social unrest, and discomfort, with current political choices. Nicolay’s installations have notably referenced the imbalance of wealth and social wellbeing using and defacing real currency. While Hopiavuori’s paintings hint at an ever present societal violence and the abuse of governmental power. The United States of America, and the United Nations, among others, are alluded to, in both Nicolay’s and Hopiavuori’s practices.

The choice, of content, style and theme of this Äkkigalleria5 exhibition, has been fully given to the artists themselves. Nicolay has sent some raw artwork through international post to be incorporated into his installation, and Hopiavuori also intends to bring elements, for his final creation, from his home in Helsinki. The completed exhibition will be made for and within the Äkkigalleria space with new, unexpected and last minute creations.

The Äkkigalleria artist residency along with the Äkkigalleria5 exhibition will be held in what was previously the Jyväskylän Tanssiopisto on Cygnaeuksenkatu. The exhibition will be open to the public for four days at the beginning of September. The opening will be held on Thursday the 2nd of September. The gallery will be open from 1pm until 7pm and is free of charge.

Tervetuloa!

Äkkigalleria 5 Artist Residency

2010-07-17T15:25:00.001-07:00

For its first Artist Residency, Äkkigalleria is inviting two visual artists from two different countries: Chrstian Nicolay from Canada and Roy Hopiavuori from Finland. The concept behind this residency is to bring two unfamiliar artists together within an appropriate space for the duration of (approximately) 2 weeks.

In this residency we are bringing two artists, who have never met, together for an intense period of creation. The artists themselves are free to create the exhibition together or next to each other as they wish. They might each come with their own pre-designed ideas but working with the unfamiliar, the particular space and time will force them to adapt spontaneously.
–Anna Ruth

The space will be opened to the public at the end of the residency for a four-day exhibition. The space for Äkkigalleria has been found and will be announced soon.

Äkkigalleria 4 - Images

2010-05-24T14:57:00.001-07:00

Exhibition view, Tuomo Blomqvist's "Matka" in front.

Jaana Kautto's "Ydinvoima" 2010

from left to right: Hannu Korpinen's oil painting "Ydinvoman vastaan"2010, and Down Leikkonen's digital print "Ydinsuomi" 2010

Matti Reivi "Sisu" 2010, and photographs by Juho Jäppinen "Kuvia Suomesta - Tritium" 2010

Tuomo Blomqvist's "Matka" 2010

Äkkigalleria 4 - the installation

2010-05-19T12:26:00.000-07:00

Three artists were able to come help install the exhibition today, including Tuomo Blomqvist who only just agreed to participate in the show this very afternoon! Tomorrow is the opening and everyone is welcome to come and discuss YDINVOIMA!

Tuomo Blomqvist moving into Äkkigalleria 4 at the last minute!

moving Erika Erre's sculpture into the cellar...

Äkkigalleria 4 : Nuclear Energy

2010-05-14T03:13:00.000-07:00

In appreciation to the Suomen Kulttuurirahaston Keski-Suomen rahasto*, Äkkigalleria is making another spontaneous appearance, this time in “Up-town” Jyväskylä. Äkkigalleria is taking a political stance for its fourth exhibition by giving a contemporary and controversial theme to local artists to play with: Nuclear Energy.

The Finnish Government is currently in the process of making a historical decision about national energy production. The Central Party of Finland is pushing towards the construction of two new, additional nuclear power plants and the Green Party is lobbying against this choice.

For this art exhibition we are not guiding the artists to make art for, or against, but rather to make new art openly inspired by the theme of Nuclear Energy. This collection of work is intended to stimulate thoughts, questions and conversation around nuclear energy, its use and its consequences.

Äkkigalleria chose eight Finnish artists (and one collective) to explore the theme of Nuclear Energy. The artists are: Tuomo Blomqvist, Erika Erre, Juho Jäppinen, the JKL-Collective, Jaana Kautto, Hannu Korpinen, Kimmo Kumela, Down Leikkonen and Matti Reivi.

Tuomo Blomqvist’s art is conceptual and poetic. His work often stems from ready-made objects which bloom into installations. Tuomo Blomqvist is interested in the small details of everyday life.

Erika Erre’s uses black humour to treat serious issues of humanity. Her work is audacious and often uses the body, or symbols of the body in dramatic settings. For Äkkigalleria Erika Erre has constructed a silicone form which includes head, arm, leg and tail. In relation to the theme of nuclear energy, this form reminds us of horror stories and menaces disaster.

Juho Jäppinen’s photographs show panoramas of the typical “Finnish Landscape”. In these serene images, Jäppinen plays with the juxtaposition of image and title: what we see and what we the text tells us. Children resident within a 5km circumference of a nuclear power plant have been proven to hold a 117% higher risk of suffering from Leukemia. All 6 images were taken within a 5km circumference of the nuclear power plant near the city of Loviisa.

JKL-collective is a group of politically involved artists. For the Äkkigalleria – Nuclear Power exhibition they are blatantly regurgitating the logo and slogan of the National Coalition Party of Finland in a literal context of the Nuclear Energy debate.

Jaana Kautto is best known for her photographs but she is also gardener. In this exhibition Jaana Kautto combines humour and beauty. Nuclear, nucleus, in a play on words she uses a potato to describe the power of nature and an alternative definition of “Ydin” or “inner-core” power.

Hannu Korpinen comes from a tradition of narrative, expressionistic painting. For this exhibition he presents an oil painting inspired by thoughts on Nuclear Power. The painting was made specifically for this Äkkigalleria exhibition.

Kimmo Kumela uses drawing to meditate. The clam repetition of the gesture in making a drawing allows time and space to study a thought and dissolve negative energy. For this exhibition, he is showing a series of drawings of atomic clouds.

Down Leikkonen is best known for his political cartoons and illustrations in the regional newspaper Keskisuomalainen. His image “Nuclear-Finland” was published in the Keskisuomalainen on the 16th of May 2010. It is not related to any specific event or decision, but is a comment on the current conversation of nuclear energy.

Matti Reivi is a sculptor. The work made for this exhibition is a hybrid of two traditional Finnish objects: a hand-plough and tar-drop candies. With these objects he is using a play on words Ydin Voima, “Inner Strength”, or Finnish Strength.

The exhibition was open from Thursday the 20^th until Sunday the 23^rd from 1-7pm, at Kauppakatu 3, Jyväskylä.

*Äkkigalleria received a 6500e grant from the Suomen Kulttuurirahaston Keski-Suomen rahasto on the 14th of May, 2010.

Äkkigalleria 3

2010-04-06T12:43:00.000-07:00

Äkkigalleria 3 presented a selection of artists at the multimedia edge of the current art scene in Vancouver. The work references the Olympics in a critical point of view, to discuss deeper concerns within contemporary society. Here is a presentation of the artists:

Jesse Corcoran’s piece “Sad Majority” was on display at the Crying Room Gallery before and during the Vancouver Olympics. The graffiti styled drawing, representing four un-happy faces and one happy face, was order to be removed by “officials” in the months preceding the Winter Games. The controversy was however short lived and the piece was re-installed during the Olympics. This drawing directly addresses the imbalance of profit in hosting a “big money” event such as the Olympics.

Robert Gardiner looks at surveillance and use of space in his video “Survailing Airspace”. This video was first shown as part of the exhibition “A Collective Response- a group exhibition responding to the current cultural landscape in Vancouver” at Gallery Gachet. In this piece, Gardiner films an advertisement for the Olympics in an empty hallway that is under surveillance. Gardiner’s work looks at the use of space and security during the Olympic Games through a humorous lens by bringing focus to the absurd.

Rina Liddle is interested in boundaries between the private and public spaces. Liddle’s work is rooted in interactive and new media expression through which she physically puts the viewer in an active position. “We Are Watching” was first shown at the Jeffery Boone Gallery as part of the “Bright Light” project sponsored by the Vancouver City. This project has been modified, from its original presentation form, to suit the space, context and public of Äkkigalleria.

Heidi Nagtegaal’s artistic practice springs out of her background in craft and her interest in social exchange. The performance “Redirecting traffic 2010” was made at the height of the Olympics on a busy street in Downtown Vancouver. This project uses crocheted traffic pylons to help redirect the flow of traffic in a piece that amplifies an artistic temper-tantrum to a dangerous degree while remaining calm. Look at me! Look at Art! Don’t run us down! Pay attention! Nagtegaal’s video symbolically demonstrates the lack of concern and social solidarity in a busy society.

Christian Nicolay’s photograph “20$10” was part of the Artwalk stream of impromptu galleries in Gastown Vancouver during the two weeks of the Olympics. The photograph depicts the fragile hands of a street person holding five 2$ coins. The coins are split into the silver rings and the yellow centre pieces, in much the same way as public opinion was split over hosting the Olympics. Nicolay references the imbalance of wealth generated by the Olympics and hints at other possible uses of taxpayers’ money.

Nola Semczyszyn intertwines light humour with a highly conceptual practice. “A is for Abecedary” is an interactive listing of words used in the Olympics and in Vancouver/Whistler during the Winter Olympics 2010. The list also includes words that are related to the effect of this event on the City and its residents.

Danna Vajda comes from a back ground in writing and fine art which she combines in publication projects. Vajda’s piece is a script/artist book that encourages performance. The text groups athletes, artists and performers in a discussion about modes of representation, the rules of the game and authorship within the Olympics. Vajda has taken advantage of Äkkigalleria to bring her project "olympicsolympicoolympia" into physical being.

The Vancouver De[tour] Guide 2010 is an interactive internet based media-art project. The basic idea behind this project was to offer tourists another side of the “Beautiful British Columbia” Vancouver as advertised by the Olympic committee. The intention of the project was also to rise to the number 1 spot on the Google search list and thereby to compete with the glossy publicity of the Olympics for recognition. The project site for The Vancouver De[tour] is still on-line and active. Visitors of Äkkigalleria are invited to learn about Vancouver and are invited to add any information they might know about the City.
http://vancouvertourguide2010.com/

The majority of the artwork in this exhibition was discovered at various venues around the City during the two weeks of the Vancouver Olympics. Several pieces, including Danna Vajda’s “olympicsolympicoolympia”, Nola Semszyczyn’s “A is for Abecedary” and Rina Liddle’s “Working with what is left” came to life for the occasion of this Äkkigalleria exhibition.

By extracting all of these pieces from their original context (the Olympics) the content of the Winter Games is reduced to a pretext in addressing larger and more urgent social questions of security, money and happiness.

Greetings from the Olympics, Greetings from Home!

Äkkigalleria 3 - Images

2010-03-11T03:20:00.001-08:00

Äkkigalleria3 was held from the 27th until the 31st of March 2010. This time the exhibition took place in a former electronics/computer-tech storefront of "Tietoniekka" located at Tapionkatu 4, Jyväskylä Finland. The title of this exhibition is "Greetings from the Olympics" and presented work by 8 Vancouver artists.
Äkkigalleria 3's artists are: Jesse Corcoran, Robert Gardiner, Rina Liddle, Heidi Nagtegaal, Christian Nicolay, Nola Semszynczyn, Danna Vajda and the group Vancouver [De]tour 2010.

With a focus on new media, this show presented video, photo, performance, sculptural and drawing based work. The work in this show was made with reference to the Olympics in the city of Vancouver. Several pieces were specifically made for Äkkigalleira3.

Danna Vajda's Script is seen from upstairs looking down through the stairs.

Unzyme plays at the opening in front of Rina Liddle's installation "We are Watching".

from right to left work by Christian Nicolay, Heidi Nagtegaal and Robert Gardiner.

Äkkigalleria 2

2010-02-27T17:11:00.000-08:00

The second Äkkigalleria was held from the 16th to the 20th of December 2009.
For this second exhibition, Äkkigalleria presented Jyväskylä based artists: Jussi Heikkilä, Aino Kajaniemi and Pekka Suomäki, along with four other Finnish artists: Terhi Heino, Helena Junttila, John Phillip Mäkinen and Tiitus Petäjäniemi, and Canadian artist Joshua Van Dyke.
The artists were chosen based on the trends of their past work and will present new work related to the theme “Human-animal – where humans and nature collide”. This exhibition took place in a former pet-shop/aquarium storefront.

Tiitus Petäjäniemi's paintings at the opening

Installation by Pekka Suomäki and tapestries by Aino Kajaniemi in the background

Mascara brushes by Terhi Heino and drawings by Helena Junttila in the background

Installation by John Phillip Mäkinen

Antlers by Joshua Van Dyke and side view of work by Aino Kajaniemi

The first Äkkigalleria exhibition

2010-02-23T19:06:00.000-08:00

Jyväskylä artists Hannu Castrén, Jaakko Jäppinen and Tiina Osara, along with visiting Spanish artist Fernando García showed new work for the opening Äkkigalleria exhibition. This group of artists presented work inspired by the theme of “the word- use of letters in art”. All artwork was specifically created for this debutant gallery show.
The Grand Opening of Äkkigalleria took place on Thursday the 24th of September 2009 from 5 - 7pm. The show was open to the public from Thursday the 24th until Sunday the 27th of September 2009 from 1 - 6pm.

image from the opening night

Tiina Osara installing a series of photographs

Hannu Castrén and Fernando García install Hannu's Onkia sign