Finnish contemporary: Hannu Karjalainen

Transcription

1 Finnish contemporary: Hannu Karjalainen

2 The Statoil art programme is pleased to present the exhibition Finnish contemporary: Hannu Karjalainen in the foyer of Rogaland Theatre on the occasion of the production of Henrik Ibsen s John Gabriel Borkman. The exhibition showcases six artworks by the young and highly talented Finnish fine art photographer, Hannu Karjalainen. The works are recent acquisitions on loan from the Statoil art collection, which also has acquired several works by other artists from the internationally recognised Helsinki School of photography. As we are collecting Nordic contemporary art mainly by young and emerging artists, there are really no two ways about it: it is hard to ignore the Finns. Few learning institutions have proven so adept at nurturing young talents and developing a lasting commitment to quality as the University of Art and Design in Helsinki. Hannu Karjalainen produced proof of this fact earlier this year, when he received the Finnish Young Artist of the Year award. With our engagement in art, we achieve a sustainable contribution to the cultural development of the societies in which we operate, and build our corporate culture and profile. Art awakens creativity and inspiration, it brings people together and into conversation with each other. The Statoil art programme has five connected and dynamic elements: Art collection Exhibitions Learning Communication Art award I have always been interested in and intrigued by portraits. The very notion of the portrait, be it a painting or a photograph, promises the viewer a glimpse to someone s persona, maybe soul even. A succesful portrait is often considered to be able to compress something essential about its subject into a single image. It is not a surprise that photography has been believed to be able to steal the soul. I suggest my recent work to be seen as contemporary portraits. The works question the representation of singular identity through a constructed image. The portraits are remarked by the near absence or gradual erasure of their subjects. Their stories unfold with a logic that bears little resemblance to that of conventional everday life. Their stories are read in their bodies, their gestures, in the textures, in the details. As the subjects appear distant and eventually unapproachable, we are left with a virtually blank screen on which to project one s own hopes, dreams, nightmares and fears. Hannu Karjalainen As well as promoting young and emerging artists, one of our stated ambitions is to provide accessibility to the public so that even more people have immediate access to art. This exhibition plays a part in this effort. Enjoy! Jens R Jenssen Senior vice president of corporate human resources Statoil ASA Learn more at Hannu Karjalainen, 2009 Jari Kuusenaho / Tampere Art Museum

3 Man in Blue Shirt, mm film on DVD minutes Man in Pale Blue Shirt, 2008 C-print, Diasec. 150 x 120 cm

4 Woman in Pink Dress, 2008 Man in Red Sweatshirt 1, 2009

5 Man in Red Sweatshirt 2, 2009 Woman with Purple Scarf, 2009

6 Hannu Karjalainen Born 1978 in Haapavesi, Finland Lives and works in Helsinki, Finland and Berlin, Germany Education: 2005 Master of Art, University of Industrial Arts Helsinki, Department of Photography 2001 Bachelor of Art, University of Industrial Arts Helsinki, Department of Photography Muurla School of Photography Solo exhibitions: 2009 Young Artist of the Year 2009, Tampere Art Museum, Tampere, Finland 2008 Rotwand Gallery, Zürich, Switzerland (with Lovisa Ringborg) 2008 Galerie Adler / Subzone 1 & 2, Frankfurt, Germany (with Susanna Majuri) 2008 Korjaamo Gallery, Helsinki, Finland 2008 Turku Art Museum, Turku, Finland 2007 Loop Art Fair, Gallery Taik, Barcelona, Spain 2007 HIAP project studio, Helsinki, Finland 2007 Spike Island, Bristol, UK 2006 Centre Européen d Actions Artistiques Contemporaines, Strasbourg, France 2006 Kunsthalle Lophem, Bruges, Belgium 2006 Gallery Hippolyte, Helsinki, Finland 2005 Avanto Media Art Festival, Muu gallery, Helsinki, Finland 2004 Kluuvi gallery, Helsinki City Art Museum, Helsinki, Finland 2004 Gallery Huuto, Helsinki, Finland Group exhibitions: 2008 Galerie Baudoin Lebon, Paris, France 2008 Galerie Ateliers L H du Siège, Valenciennes, France 2008 Who Are You Faceless Tableaux Vivants, Galerie Adler New York, New York, USA 2008 Mänttä Art Festival, Mänttä, Finland 2008 The Helsinki School Rose Boréal - Photographies de l école d Helsinki, Ecole des Beaux-Arts Paris, Paris, France 2008 Helsinki By Night / Helsinki School, Helsinki Week in Berlin, Berlin, Germany 2008 Loop of the Month, Kiasma Contemporary Art Museum, Helsinki, Finland 2008 Image And After, Kiasma Contemporary Art Museum, Helsinki, Finland 2008 Parrotta Contemporary Art, Stuttgart, Germany 2007 Paris Photo Art Fair, Gallery Taik, Paris, France 2007 Can Felipa, Barcelona, Spain 2007 Bath Film Festival, Bath (installation at St. Michael s Church), UK 2007 Leeds International Film Festival (installation), Leeds, UK 2007 Into the Woods Tonight, Parrotta Contemporary Art, Stuttgart, Germany 2007 Art Forum Berlin, Gallery Taik, Berlin 2007 Helsinki School, Museum of Photography, Helsinki, Finland 2007 Turku Biennial, Aboa Vetus & Ars Nova Museum, Turku, Finland 2007 Photo Finland, Helsinki School, Stenersen Museum, Oslo, Norway 2007 Transgressions, 112th Annual Exhibition of the Artist Association of Finland, South Karelian Art Museum, Lappeenranta, Finland 2007 Salon Nouveau, Engholm Engelhorn Galerie, Vienna, Austria 2006 International Festival of Video Art Valencia, La Sala Naranja, Valencia, Spain 2006 Nordic Cut, The Helsinki School, Art Pavilion, Zagreb, Croatia 2006 Art Forum Berlin, Gallery Taik, Berlin, Germany 2006 Vad är fotografi? The Helsinki School, Borås Art Museum, Borås, Sweden 2006 Cloud Castle Lake, Short stories, segments of narrative, and suspended encounters, Club Shepway, Folkestone, UK 2006 Slideshow, Trinity House, Leicester, UK 2005 Art Fair Suomi, Cable Factory, Helsinki, Finland 2005 Helsinki Photography Festival, Helsinki, Finland 2005 Masters of Art 2005, The Graduation Show, University of Industrial Arts, Helsinki, Finland 2005 The 110th Annual Exhibition of the Artist Association of Finland, Helsinki Kunsthalle, Helsinki, Finland 2003 Inside Outliners, Kunsthalle Lophem, Bruges, Belgium 2003 The 108th Annual Exhibition of the Artist Association of Finland; The Young Artists 2003, Helsinki, Finland 2001 The Stockholm International Art Fair, Gallery Taik, Stockholm, Sweden Video Screenings: 2008 Arctic Hysteria Onscreen, PS1/MoMA, New York, USA 2008 Selection of Finnish Video Works, Centre Pompidou, Paris, France 2008 Laurintz Konsthall, Copenhagen, Denmark 2007 A Night of Finnish Frenzy, A little Blah Blah, Saigon, Vietnam 2007 View 07, Festival for Finnish Media Art, Helsinki, Finland 2006 Party in celebration of Frieze Art Fair, Embassy of Denmark, London, UK 2006 Uppsala International Short Film Festival, Uppsala, Sweden 2006 Loop Festival, Barcelona, Spain 2006 Breaking the Ice, Kunstmuseum Bonn, Bonn, Germany 2006 Forum Box, AV-Arkki Tour, Finland 2006 Tampere 36th International Film Festival, Tampere, Finland 2006 View 06, Festival for Finnish Media Art, Helsinki, Finland 2005 Plan 9 Gallery, Bristol, UK 2005 Backlight 05, 7th International Photographic Triennal, Tampere, Finland 2004 Gallery Huuto Video screening, Helsinki, Finland 2004 Video 2004, Bergen Contemporary Art Center, Bergen, Norway Memberships: The Union of Artist Photographers Muu ry AV-Arkki The Distribution Center for Finnish Media Art Residencies: 2007 Schloss Bleckede, Bleckede, Germany 2006 Centre Européen d Actions Artistiques Contemporaines, Strasbourg, France 2005 Bristol, UK, Moving Image Residency, Co-organized by Picture This, Spike Island and Watershed Prizes: 2009 Young Artist of the Year 2009, Finland 2007 The main prize of Turku Biennial 2007, Turku, Finland (selected by Timo Valjakka)

7 Finnish contemporary: Hannu Karjalainen Rogaland Theatre, Stavanger, Norway 29 August 10 October 2009 Statoil art programme