FROM THE EARTH YOU ARE / Graphic Drawings – Arja-Riitta Ihalainen and Hanna Tammi

From the Earth You Are
Arja-Riitta Ihalainen

The works in this exhibition speak of the continuity of life. They embody time, yet at the same time, a sense of timelessness. The initial idea was the transient nature of human existence, but as the painting process progressed, the concept evolved—moving closer to the origins of all things, to the creation story.

In the artwork Pulvis et umbra sumus, which extends from the ceiling to the floor, fetal-positioned human figures are on the verge of vanishing into thin air—or perhaps they are emerging, marking the beginning of life…

Some of the exhibition’s pieces were created last summer in Italy, at the Finnish Artists’ Association’s studio in Grassina, drawing inspiration from the surroundings. The dawn of creation blended with the rebirth of the Renaissance and the enchanting light of Tuscany.

In more recent works, the idea of from the earth you are becomes more tangible. The asymmetrical paintings, suggestively depicting parts of the human body and skin, can also be seen as abstract landscapes—where Tuscany’s rolling hills gradually transform into a familiar river delta.

The works have been painted with acrylic on cotton over the course of a year.

Graphic Drawings
Hanna Tammi

My exhibition consists of black-and-white graphic drawings that combine printmaking and ink drawing, along with small mixed-media graphic sculptures.

The graphic drawings depict a woman’s world in the space between reality and imagination. Together, they form a narrative journey through the gallery, where the protagonist moves from one image and event to another. Through my works, I tell small stories and convey emotional states. A young woman navigates the turmoil of the world, exploring both herself and her surroundings. There are forest paths, rafts on the water, dark cities, and strange thoughts. A wolf accompanies her—both as a threat and as a friend. The girl and the wolf’s story continues even in gender education illustrations. The graphic sculptures speak of femininity and the process of becoming a woman.

I am fascinated by black and white, by the expressive power of lines and tones. Working within this limited palette is, to me, both challenging and essential. In addition to the multi-layered techniques of printmaking, I am drawn to more immediate and direct forms of expression—such as drawing. In these works, drawing has taken on an even greater role, and I have combined it with printmaking in a collage-like manner.

The techniques used in my prints include carborundum, drypoint, etching, aquatint, and soft ground. In my graphic sculptures, I have worked with materials such as plaster and photo-based printmaking. The text in the gender education illustrations comes from a 1940s manual.

This text was created with AI assistance.