Antti-Ville Reinikainen

In the first half of April, Poriginal Gallery will showcase works by Helsinki-based visual artist Antti-Ville Reinikainen.
The exhibition spreads across both floors of the gallery. The works, which combine sculpture and installation art, evoke familiar elements such as tile stoves and stairways. Under Reinikainen’s treatment, these elements transform and merge into surprising, atmospheric stories: a cutting board has been sliced, a tile stove floats like a broken lighthouse at the ceiling’s edge, the corner of a brick wall from a residential building peeks through, slot machines merge with communion bread and medals.

The key concept is ‘devotion,’ which refers to both a dedicated and diligent mindset, as well as a spiritually moved state of mind. On the other hand, the word originally meant something strong or severe. The same word also gave rise to the modern term for engaging with things of interest, ‘harrastaa’ (to pursue a hobby).

In Reinikainen’s works, the fireplace, gaming machine, and church pew are all tools for devotion. The works blend secular and spiritual references. Mundane devotion, patriotic devotion, and religious devotion all serve the same human need to reach toward something unattainable. The works examine different forms of devotion with compassion, humor, and even self-irony, showing how something is always in the way of fulfillment.

“Hobbies” is Reinikainen’s fourteenth solo exhibition. This is the second time his works will be presented at Poriginal Gallery. His first exhibition here in 2007 was a significant experience in the young artist’s career, leaving behind warm memories. Returning to Pori after ten years is a great joy and honor for the artist.

Translated with ChatGPT