Exhibition
A Place for Rest
Installation by Seija Ulkuniemi
Main lobby of the Arts and Design Faculty, University of
Lapland
The installation consists of a rocking chair, which is placed on
a carpet made of old rags.
Over the back of the rocking chair there is a shawl, on which
there is embroidery made with cross-stitches saying: "Please sit
down and let the haste pass you by."
Conference visitors are welcomed to enter the work to relax.
Thoughts connected to the work.
In our time
nobody seems
to have
any time. |
I remember somebody
said:
"It is the right time for you
to have a pause,
when you have no time
for it." |
Many wise people teach
that inner peace
is essential
for a human being. As:
"Go calmly
into the midst of noise
and haste
remembering the peace
hidden
in silence." |
FLOW! For the Castaways
Installation by Seija Ulkuniemi
University of Lapland, Art and Design Faculty, Gallery
Katve
The Installation is the artist's homage to the harmonising power
of nature and more specific the Kemijoki-river. The river that
characterised the place she has been born and raised in. The
Kemijoki-river continues to be Ulkuniemi's breath of fresh air -
especially when she feels hurt and crippled; like a castaway.
 The artist
began the preparation and photography for this project
somewhat ten years ago when, whilst walking the banks of
Kemijoki-river, she felt the strengthening effect of the
river's flow particularly strong. The photographs exhibited
here have been taken by the riverbanks during the changing
seasons. The images focus on the eye-pleasing views and
details of the landscape. Some photographs also portrait
people close to the artist enjoying the delights the river
offers. One of the photographs might seem out of place
here…
The large colour prints are placed on the walls. Black and white
wood-paper prints are attached to an old frayed wooden rowing boat,
which the visitor can step onto. The visitor, if s/he so wishes,
can sit on the boat seat, get wrapped up into a woollen net, put on
a set of earphones and enjoy the calming lapping of the
Kemijoki-river. The artist wishes that the stimulus of various
senses the installation offers, gives the visitor a chance to
capture the flow in their own lives.
The boat has also a tar-scented booklet where Ulkuniemi has
written aphorisms dealing with managing in everyday life situations
and about the mercifulness of the river. The aphorisms have often
been born during her hiking trips in nature. Ulkuniemi wishes the
book to increase the interaction between her and her audience; the
visitors are invited to write their own thoughts and aphorisms
about the river or the exhibition.
Ulkuniemi is also campaigning for the banks of the
Kemijoki-river to be restored for enjoyment for people. At the
moment they are alarmingly filling with unapproachable bushes and
thickets. |