FLOWERS OF MONOCULTURE – Laura Lehenkari and Sakari Peltola

Laura Lehenkari and Sakari Peltola are an artist couple living in Pori and Loimaa. Both graduated from Kankaanpää School of Fine Arts —Lehenkari in 2005 and Peltola sometime in the last millennium. Lehenkari casts plaster and concrete, while Peltola sculpts stone. This is their first joint exhibition.

UPSTAIRS

Lehenkari has been struggling with world-weariness. The world is falling apart piece by piece around us; species are going extinct, and our monoculture-based ways—whether in food production or society—cause problems that neither pesticides nor social policies can solve. Children are caught in the middle of wars and conflicts, either at home or abroad. And everything that goes wrong is always someone else’s fault. When will the day come when even pigs grow wings? That day will be full of possibilities—one way or another. Lehenkari’s sculptures reflect these thoughts, with a touch of self-irony.

Lehenkari wishes to thank Sakke for his mental and practical support, the SKR Satakunta Fund for financial assistance, and others involved simply for existing.

DOWNSTAIRS

Peltola, on the other hand, presents the soulscape of the Finnish working man, constructing a nearly 4000-kilogram stone narrative in the downstairs space. This work touches on themes such as today’s performance-driven, competitive, and class-based society, national romanticism, and even Finland’s cultural policy. In times of economic crisis, extreme phenomena become more common, and cuts are made in every sector. Amidst all this global turmoil, small artists keep grinding away at their work. Giving up is not an option, though the roots of monoculture run deep within Finland’s art scene as well.

A heartfelt thank you to Poriginal Gallery for allowing us to bring this exhibition to Pori. Thanks to Kankaanpää School of Fine Arts for the years 1994–1998. Thanks to all the friends we’ve met along the way, both in Finland and abroad. Thanks to the Arts Promotion Centre Finland for the first (targeted) grant in 15 years (for tools and materials). Thanks to Loimaan Kivi for over 12 years of collaboration and support. Thanks to my parents for 40 years of encouragement. And most of all, thank you, Laura, for seven years of patience and love. We’ll be alright.

This text was created with AI assistance.