Sensitivity in the Face of Things – Kristiina Karsten

“Giving up is not about removing all worldly things, but accepting that they will go away.”
– Shunryu Suzuki

Tea is available at the exhibition.

“The roots of the exhibition lie in losses and letting go that were part of a certain period of my life, as well as in my efforts to understand what they meant. I processed these not only by thinking, feeling, and writing, but also by walking in gardens and parks, retreating to the shores and forests. I paid attention to the tree swaying in the wind, to shimmering reflections, and to the angel’s wing on the kitchen windowsill slowly shedding and growing its leaves. From these small, simple, and natural things, something very meaningful and comforting emerged. While observing the movements and cycles of nature, I found peace in the realization that nothing here is endless, and nothing is final either. Light and dark, significance and insignificance, joy and melancholy, love and sorrow, sensitivity and brutality, gaining and letting go, growing and withering – these are all present here, in everything, in every moment, and they follow one another just like autumn follows summer.

I make art in collaboration with time, through things and objects that, by losing their significance, gain a new one. The most important aspects of the process are meditation, intuition, and a certain ritualistic quality. The works have been inspired not only by life and nature but also by Zen, Baroque, and Japanese aesthetics, especially the term mono no aware, which refers to the ability of beautiful things to move the heart, the bittersweet feeling that arises from experiencing their transience and impermanence, as well as sensitivity in the face of things. The images and arrangements ask, perhaps quietly, what our attitude is toward life and change, and the effects of change on our environment, our loved ones, and ourselves. How much or how little do we perceive the reality related to these? Do we dare to face the passage of time and all the fragility?”

Sensitivity in the Face of Things addresses life, its cycles, and its transience through object and plant arrangements, photographs, and installations. The works have been created by combining parts of trees, plants, and flowers collected during walks and from other moments with remnants and old, worn objects. A video work consists of various details related to the passage of time and seasons, which Karsten gathers and captures.

Kristiina Karsten (born 1982) is an artist from Turku, Finland, interested in both big questions and small details. She graduated from the Turku Arts Academy’s film program in 2007, and she works in the fields of art and culture, focusing on visual and cinematic arts. Her interdisciplinary approach is evident in her work, often blending multiple media and techniques. Sensitivity in the Face of Things is her first solo exhibition, which was previously displayed at B-gallery in Turku in 2015. The exhibition has been supported by the Southwest Finland Arts Council/The Arts Promotion Centre Finland.

Translated with ChatGPT