LIGHT LIGHT – Tiina Palmu
The title of my new exhibition, Light Light, can be interpreted in multiple ways. It could mean light light, bright light, weightless light, or even ignite the light.
Light Light points to things that exist delicately—things that may become visible only momentarily, almost immaterially, and sometimes nearly invisibly.
The works in the exhibition are built from a few material components, subtle transformations, and latent images. Floating in the air, there may be traces of dreams, mental imprints, monuments, and the laws of physics. Shaped by wind, light, and language, these elements merge into artworks whose final visual presence is strengthened in the viewer’s mind.
The moving image installation Collection of Sunspots gathers reflections of light patches cast onto walls from different times and memories. These easily overlooked everyday sights now take center stage, reflecting back a temporal perspective and inviting contemplation on the nature of perception, the omnipresence of hidden images, and their wandering essence.
While working on these pieces, I have been meditating on questions such as: When does an image become an image? When does a thought become clear, words gain meaning, and knowledge transform into understanding? I see imagery as inherently fluid, existing even when it escapes our attention. That is why it fascinates me to consider how many images remain beyond our senses and how limited our gaze truly is. Directing one’s focus in a specific direction is, in itself, a radical act. The works in this exhibition can be seen as being in a transitional state—perceivable in the present moment but still shifting, either fading into invisibility or becoming more pronounced.
Part of the inspiration for this exhibition came from an experience where my perception of my surroundings changed rapidly. At first, the room I was in felt warm, fresh, and peach-colored. But as I read a letter that stirred deep emotions, the room’s hues suddenly shifted to a cool blue-gray, feeling stuffy, sharp, and cold. The change was so immediate that it left me wondering about the nature of perception—what reality truly looks like and how often my view of it shifts without me even noticing.
Light Light is like a gentle understanding in the face of overwhelming themes—an experiential glide between the visible and the invisible.
Translated with ChatGPT