Tuuli Helve

The second version consists of two exhibition entities, both of which have previously been presented separately in different variations. The exhibition at Poriginal Gallery provided an opportunity to expand them and deepen the existing ideas.

Maastoa is a large-scale composition made up of 32 watercolor paintings, extending beyond… The work nearly covers its entire display surface. The images feature repetitions and variations of convex and concave shapes. I aimed to bring movement into the paintings: dripping, spreading, clattering, and rattling—depth effects created through colors and tonal values.

While working on the individual paintings, which were technically demanding, I enjoyed thinking of them as building blocks for a large spatial artwork. I left part of the final composition to be determined during the hanging process. In general, my exhibitions are adaptable, living processes that transform according to different spaces.

Additionally, the exhibition includes photographs that I created after the paintings. I searched my surroundings for similar shapes to those I had painted earlier. The photographs are playful, everyday reflections of the forms appearing in the paintings. They are presented like cards, placed in stands for browsing.

The works in Waiting Room (Odotussali) have been exhibited in various everyday locations across the Helsinki metropolitan area in different forms between 1999 and 2001. The exhibition was also shown in a gallery space in Helsinki in April 2001.

My starting point was the general concept of waiting rooms: they often provide magazines filled with celebrity gossip and relationship stories. The idea for the portraits stemmed from magazine covers, which I combined with different texts. To make waiting time more engaging, this imaginary waiting room allows visitors to play and create new combinations, actively influencing the content.

The contradictions between media-driven ideals and people’s everyday lives, as well as questions of human dignity and relationships, emerge symbolically through the mix-and-match portraits and text combinations. I also explored how different spaces and audiences affect the content of the works. The original paintings are not displayed; instead, I created prints in various sizes and shapes, forming a kind of product family.

This text was created with AI assistance