AT THE BASE– Tuuli Autio, Soile Hovila

In the downstairs space of Poriginal Gallery, wood artist Tuuli Autio presents her wooden sculptures alongside textile artist Soile Hovila’s woven tapestries. The At the Base exhibition immerses the viewer in a forest-like atmosphere, both thematically and materially. The audience is invited to experience the calming beauty of harmonious tones. At the same time, the works also reflect how the good stands in contrast with the broken in our time. The exhibition invites visitors to pause at the base of a tree and discover something timeless beyond the fleeting gestures of the human body and the passing rays of light.

Tuuli Autio carves simplified human figures from wood, resembling quick sketches that seek to capture the essential. Her starting point—the human essence—is both unique and momentary, yet universally recognizable. She explores how individuals carry themselves and interact with their surroundings.

Autio respects the nature of wood. She works with an axe, chainsaw, and chisel, allowing the rhythmic marks of her tools to remain visible. Sculpting becomes an immersive adventure, where the original idea and the living wood engage in a dialogue—one that the sculptor observes and listens to. The unique character of each piece of wood becomes an integral part of the artwork.

Soile Hovila’s woven tapestries capture fleeting moments in nature—scenes illuminated by just the right angle of light that momentarily transform the forest for the observer. These sudden encounters with light and movement create a profound emotional response. In her latest works, aesthetics are accompanied by a desire to depict contrasts in the world, such as population density, wealth, and the importance of biodiversity.

Hovila has specialized in the rare art of gobelin tapestry weaving in Finland since 2001. Her works are woven on vertical looms using fine, multi-toned threads. The pieces are created from the reverse side, often progressing sideways, slowly, row by row. When weaving from the back, some visual decisions emerge intuitively.

The creation of the exhibition works has been supported by Taike (Arts Promotion Centre Finland), the Uusimaa and Häme Funds of the Finnish Cultural Foundation, and the Greta and William Lehtinen Foundation.