Porin Saskiat ry, Scholarship Exhibition – Petri Haavisto, Annika Takala

The traditional scholarship exhibition of Pori Saskiat ry opens once again at Poriginal Gallery on Saturday, September 26th. This year’s featured artists are Petri Haavisto and Annika Takkala. The exhibition spans both floors of Poriginal Gallery and includes paintings, sculptures, installations, and drawings.

PETRI HAAVISTO (b. 1984, Pori)

I primarily create sculptures using various materials, but I also work with performance art. My exhibitions have been shown in Finland, Latvia, the Netherlands, and Portugal. My artistic practice is influenced by nature, where I love to spend time and lose track of it. My sculptures often relate to nature, and my current work is guided by imagery of the Earth’s final moments and the relentless sea.

The Dark Matter series consists of installations and sculptures made from discarded trampoline mats, among other materials. In my work, I am interested in highlighting spaces in nature that are increasingly revealed by climate change. This exhibition also explores the cyclical and consequential relationship between humans and nature—nature is beautiful but can turn against us when needed. I have been contemplating what kind of materials define our time, materials that are everywhere yet often go unnoticed. Trampolines are now found in almost every backyard, and I have been collecting them as material for my future works. Through recycling networks, I have obtained dozens of unusable trampoline mats.

ANNIKA TAKKALA (b. 1993, Karstula)

I am a countryside-born rubber boot-wearing rustic and a cynical romantic, currently in my fourth year of studies at Kankaanpää Art School. I work with both traditional techniques and media art, focusing mainly on drawings, paintings, and video.

This exhibition showcases my painting and drawing practice. I am particularly interested in experimenting with and pushing the boundaries of materials. My works are primarily abstract and densely detailed—more question marks than exclamation points. I see my artistic practice as a tool for contemplating humanity.

Translated with ChatGPT