WITHIN FRAMEWORK, Within Framework, Kristiina Mäenpää

In my artistic practice, I explore the deceptive authenticity of photography, its power in shaping cultural constructs, and the intertwining of the material and immaterial. My works approach photography as an artificial surface—one that, through imitation, constructs and shapes cultural realities.

Within the Frame is a site-specific installation created in close dialogue with the gallery space. In the work, the surface of wood transforms into layered formations resembling wood, as space and two-dimensional imagery merge.

The installation examines the gallery as a space and context for presenting art. The white cube, often considered the ideal or original form of a gallery, serves as a productive starting point for my work—precisely because it is such an artificial concept. The white cube is based on the idea of separating art from the rest of the world, placing it in an isolated vacuum where it can be viewed without external distractions. Ideally, the gallery strives to be as unobtrusive as possible—merely a neutral backdrop for the art. However, this goal is unattainable, as the space inevitably becomes part of the artwork, and the supposed vacuum fills—at the very least—with attitudes and expectations. My work observes and transforms this void through photographic imitations. My aim is to highlight the subjectivity of both photography and the built environment.

My work has been supported by the Arts Promotion Centre Finland’s Exhibition Grant Committee and the Arts Council of the Finnish Cultural Foundation.

Kristiina Mäenpää (b. 1990) is a visual artist originally from Tampere. She graduated from Turku Arts Academy in 2014 and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Photography at Aalto University.

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