Photography matters: The Helsinki School
Dear viewer and reader, It is a great honour and a pleasure to present to you the exhibition Photography matters: The Helsinki School. The Helsinki School of photography has become an international brand recognised for its innovative works of art and excellence in talent development. The Helsinki School is conclusive evidence that photography matters as art as never before and demonstrates that a small country can develop talented, young artists into international calibre artists - by pushing the limits. Year after year they have developed the photographic process as the way of the thinking eye. At the heart of this approach is the creation of a unique learning environment at the University of Art and Design Helsinki, which fosters technical excellence, conceptual clarity, creativity and the self-confidence to make art. This exhibition shows a comprehensive selection of works by artists represented in the Statoil art collection, at different stages in their development. Some are young and at the start of their career, while others are established artists on the international scene. They show very clearly that the Helsinki School approach facilitates genuine individual and personal expression. It is not a school in the traditional sense of the word; it is indeed an approach. Encountering and engaging with art is possible outside of established cultural institutions. Our commitment to art allows us to make a sustainable contribution to the cultural development of the societies in which we operate, as well as build our corporate culture and profile. Art awakens creativity and inspiration - it brings people together and into conversation with each other. Our ambition is to: Create a courageous, distinctive and coherent art programme Promote young and emerging artists whose creative work gives society an orientation, shakes things up, or redefines Engage our people and encourage them to take advantage of opportunities for aesthetic reflection and learning Provide accessibility to the public so that even more people have immediate access to art Actively support and participate in the exchange of ideas and culture with the communities in which we operate Our art programme comprises five related and dynamic elements: the art collection, exhibitions, learning, communication and the art award. This exhibition would not have been possible without the help and participation of Timothy Persons, director of the professional studies programme and senior lecturer at the University of Art and Design Helsinki. We also wish to thank artists Pertti Kekarainen and Anni Leppälä, who have generously loaned some of their works to the exhibition, and the curators Wenche Falkenhaug (Statoil art programme) and artist Joonas Ahlava. Enjoy the journey. Jens R Jenssen Senior vice president Human resources Leader of the Statoil art programme Cover: Saviour, 2008 Susanna Majuri 3
The Helsinki School what is it? What is now known as the Helsinki School was in its essence an educational model devised in the mid-1990s by the Department of Professional Studies at the University of Art and Design, Helsinki, Finland. The model provided an opportunity to a selected group of MA students to measure and self-critique their own originality outside of the normal curriculum. The goal from the outset was to take selected students out of the classroom, enabling them to experience how to build, edit, present and curate their work on a professional level. To realise this vision, the University sponsored a series of site-specific exhibitions throughout inner city of Helsinki from 1995 to 1999. These productions afforded the students scenarios for trial and error with the aim of finding solutions to problems they would normally encounter. These site-specific exhibitions eventually led to the creation of gallery TaiK as its primary showcase, and a means of introducing these selected artists to the international community. To achieve this, the university coordinated its academic studies with gallery TaiK s participation in specified art fairs like Art Forum Berlin or Paris Photo, as a practical way of exposing students to the expectations and demands to be met when forging a successful artistic career. Today gallery TaiK maintains a permanent exhibition space in Berlin, where it also stages Helsinki School exhibitions and produces publications for a worldwide readership. It is impossible to measure the importance of the Helsinki School as an educational model and sustainable movement until it has been tested by time and has realised itself to the full. What can be gauged is the impact it has had on the numerous artists who have been through its system and who now lead professional careers. They serve as a good example of how a university from a small country with limited resources can reach beyond its borders to set new standards in preparing students for the real world and its challenges. Our hope for the future is to sustain and broaden the conceptual dialogue used as the basis of our critiques by inviting lecturers to the university to teach new perspectives. It is our goal to expand this professional workshop series to include the best artists worldwide. This, combined with our touring exhibitions and new publications, will help establish the Helsinki School as a leading educational model that other institutions can learn from, and build upon, in order to attain their own goals. Timothy Persons Senior lecturer and director of professional studies University of Art and Design Helsinki 5
Table of contents Anni Leppälä....................................................9 Elina Brotherus..................................................21 Aino Kannisto...................................................29 Hannu Karjalainen...............................................35 Pertti Kekarainen................................................45 Ola Kolehmainen................................................51 Susanna Majuri..................................................61 Tiina Itkonen....................................................67 Ilkka Halso......................................................79 Kalle Kataila.....................................................89 7
Anni Leppälä Born in 1981 in Helsinki, Finland Lives and works in Helsinki, Finland 2004 University of Art and Design Helsinki, Department of Photography, MA 2004 Arts Academy / Turku Polytechnic, BA 9
Girl in green, 2007 C-print, aluminium. 80 x 108 cm Edition of seven Hands, 2007 C-print, aluminium. 21 x 31 cm Edition of seven 10 11
Garden, 2007 C-print, aluminium. 62 x 84 cm Edition of seven Loan from the artist 12 13 Red Blanket, 2004 C-print, aluminium. 94 x 62,5 cm Edition of seven Loan from the artist
Buttons, 2004 C-print, aluminium. 47 x 69 cm Edition of four Doors, 2006 C-print, aluminium. 21 x 31,5 cm Edition of seven 14 15
Last Autumn, 2008 C-print, aluminium. 31,5 x 42,5 cm Edition of seven Rooms: Girl in a Museum, 2007 C-print, aluminium. 31,5 x 42,5 cm Edition of seven 16 17
Untitled (Lamp girl), 2007 C-print, aluminium. 27 x 40,5 cm Edition of seven Window (mirror), 2008 C-print, aluminium. 21 x 31 cm Edition of seven 18 19
Elina Brotherus Born in 1972 in Helsinki, Finland Lives and works in Helsinki, Finland, and Avallon, France 2000 University of Art and Design Helsinki, MA 1997 University of Helsinki, MSc 21
Model Study 23, 2008 C-print, aluminium, framed. 50 x 46 cm Edition of six Model Study 21, 2007 C-print, aluminium, framed. 40 x 50 cm Edition of six 22 23
In the mirror 1, 2007 C-print, aluminium, framed. 40 x 52 cm Edition of six In the mirror 2, 2007 C-print, aluminium, framed. 40 x 52 cm Edition of six 24 25
The Pool, 2008 C-print, aluminium, framed. 80 x 99 cm Edition of six Model Study 17, 2005 C-print, aluminium, framed. 80 x 61 cm Edition of six 26 27
Aino Kannisto Born in 1973 in Espoo, Finland Lives and works in Helsinki, Finland 2001 University of Art and Design Helsinki, Department of Photography, MA 29
Untitled (Bed), 2003 C-print, Diasec. 90 x 112 cm Edition of six Untitled (Train Window), 2005 C-print, Diasec. 90 x 110 cm Edition of six 30 31
32 Untitled (Two Mirrors), 2006 C-print, Diasec. 90 x 117 cm Edition of six
Hannu Karjalainen Born 1978 in Haapavesi, Finland Lives and works in Helsinki, Finland and Berlin, Germany 2005 University of Art and Design Helsinki, Department of Photography, MA 2001 University of Art and Design Helsinki, Department of Photography, BA 1998 Muurla School of Photography 35
37 Man in Blue Shirt, 2006 16 mm film on DVD Duration: 5.19 minutes Edition of five
Man in Pale Blue Shirt, 2008 C-print, Diasec. 150 x 120 cm Edition of five Woman in Pink Dress, 2008 C-print, Diasec. 150 x 120 cm Edition of five 38 39
Man in Red Sweatshirt 1, 2009 C-print, Diasec. 150 x 120 cm Edition of five Man in Red Sweatshirt 2, 2009 C-print, Diasec. 150 x 120 cm Edition of five 40 41
42 Woman with Purple Scarf, 2009 C-print, Diasec. 150 x 120 cm Edition of five
Pertti Kekarainen Born in 1965 in Oulu, Finland Lives and works in Helsinki, Finland 1989 De Vrije Academie von Beeldenden Kunsten, Den Haag 1989 Academy of Fine Arts, Helsinki 1985 University of Industrial Arts, Helsinki 45
TILA (Passage IV), 2007 C-print, Diasec. 195 x125 cm Edition of five Loan from the artist TILA (passage V), 2007 C-print, Diasec. 195 x125 cm Edition of five 46 47
TILA (Passage VI), 2007 C-print, Diasec. 195 x125 cm Edition of five Loan from the artist 48
Ola Kolehmainen Born in 1964 in Helsinki, Finland Lives and works in Helsinki, Finland and Berlin, Germany 1999 University of Art and Design Helsinki, Department of Photography, MA 1992 University of Helsinki, Department of Journalism 51
Yellow with Black and Diagonals, 2004 Analogue c-print, Diasec. 180 x 230 cm Edition of five Voluptuous, 2008 Analogue c-print, Diasec. 202 x 260 cm Edition of six 52 53
Minimal Interventions of Linear Elements, 2007 Analogue c-print (diptych). 202 x 522 cm Edition of six 55
57 Pink, Orange and Grey with a Tree, 2004 Analogue c-print, Diasec. 180 x 258 cm Edition of five
More or Less Less Organic, 2008 Analogue c-print, Diasec. 140 x 186 cm Edition of three Aalto, 2006 Analogue c-print, Diasec. 180 x 245 cm Edition of six 58 59
Susanna Majuri Born in 1978 in Helsinki, Finland Lives and works in Helsinki, Finland 2007 University of Art and Design Helsinki, Department of Photography, MA 2004 Arts Academy / Turku Polytechnic, BA 2000 Voionmaa College, Photography 1999 Orivesi College, Creative writing 61
Birthday, 2007 C-print, Diasec. 90 x 135 cm Edition of five Salme, 2007 C-print, Diasec. 80 X 120 cm Edition of five 62 63
Save, 2008 C-print, Diasec. 90 x 135 cm Edition of five Saviour, 2008 C-print, Diasec. 90 x 135 cm Edition of five 64 65
Tiina Itkonen Born 1968 in Helsinki, Finland Lives and works in Helsinki, Finland 2002 University of Art and Design Helsinki, MA 1995 Turku School of Art and Communication 67
69 Ice Fjord IlI, 2006 C-print, Diasec. 70 x 200 cm Edition of seven
71 Icescape I, 2006 C-print, Diasec. 70 x 200 cm Edition of seven
73 Kullorsuaq I, 2006 C-print, Diasec. 70 x 200 cm Edition of seven
75 Uummannaq III, 2007 C-print, Diasec. 70 x 200 cm Edition of seven
76 Man IV, 2002 C-print, Diasec. 80 x 80 cm Edition of seven
Ilkka Halso Born in 1965 in Orimattila, Finland Lives and works in Orimattila, Finland 1992 University of Art and Design Helsinki, Department of Photography, MA 79
Untitled (2), 2000 C-print, Diasec. 100 x 136 cm Edition of six Untitled (3), 2000 C-print, Diasec. 100 x 136 cm Edition of six 80 81
83 Kitka River, 2004 C-print, Diasec (tripych). 183 x 300 cm Edition of six
Theatre I, 2003 C-print, Diasec. 100 x 154 cm Edition of six Theatre II, 2008 C-print, Diasec. 125 x 190 cm Edition of six 84 85
86 Tree revolutions 1, 2008 C-print, Diasec. 100 x 132 cm Edition of six
Kalle Kataila Born in 1978 in Helsinki, Finland Lives and works in Helsinki, Finland 2006 University of Art and Design Helsinki, Department of Photography, MA 2004 Lahti Polytechnic, Institute of Design, Department of Photography, BA 2002 UCE, University of Central England in Birmingham, Art and Design, Photography 89
Contemplation, Somerset, 2004 Pigment print on photorag. 90 x 110 cm; 105 x 135 cm, framed Edition of five Contemplation, Guhyaloka, 2004 Pigment print on photorag. 90 x 120 cm; 105 x 135 cm, framed Edition of five 90 91
Contemplation, Lapland, 2007 Pigment print on photorag. 90 x 110 cm; 105 x 135 cm, framed Edition of five Contemplation No.13, 2008 Pigment print on photorag. 90 x 110 cm; 105 x 135 cm, framed Edition of five 92 93
Contemplation, Madrid, 2004 Pigment print on photorag. 90 x 120 cm; 105 x 135 cm, framed Edition of five All images the artists 2009 94
Photography matters: The Helsinki School Statoil office, main reception, Drammensveien 264, Vækerø, Oslo, Norway 1 October 2009 1 February 2010 Statoil art programme COS_091356 www.statoil.com/artprogramme