“Immence cycle of vitality which one might witness through sight of other senses”
Black alder relief 220x160cm, wool weave 300x350cm, selenite stone
Gerrit Rietveld academie, Graduation show, June 2022
Images from the group exibithion “Home is where the haunt is” at
Chateau Jolimont Septmber 2022
“Who remains here”
200 x 195 cm oil
and acrylic on canvas “I had a dream where I gave birth to an invisible baby”
150 x 120 cm oil and acrylic on plywood
Photos : Marie Cormerais,Fabien Silvestre Suzor
3.8.1998, Finland︎Visual artist
contact: inkerivirtanen1@gmail.com
Artist statement
When the sun goes down and starts to brush the edges of the foliage with bright orange rays,
I see little specks in the air,
they move at their own pace.
It is strange to become aware of these speckles
only when the direction of the light grants me to see them.
The fact that I see them only at these chosen times,
doesn’t mean that the speckles weren't there each day.
The speckles continue their invisible dance and my breath will be the drum that sets the pace, the tiny dust is travelling through my nostrils and lips to eventually dissolve on my tongue,
but I do not taste them nor feel them,
the dust is still ‘real’.
Invisible forces are as real as the visible ones. When I realised this, Imagining what is behind the veil of visibility became as important to me as the visible. This way I have come to believe multiple truths at once.
All of these imaginaries live together in my work.
I begin with an arch-image, something dramatic, nostalgic or twisted enough to make me want to meddle with it. Mundane sceneries mix with paranormal entities, and sometimes the absence of one tells more about the other. The bodily experience and body image are recurring themes in my work besides these mythical elements, because often the immaterial forces are experienced through material vessels. Superstitions work as a mirror to the ordinary, and vice versa.
I have a fast and direct way of working, I rarely make tryouts. On the contrary I often choose labour-intensive and time consuming techniques and work on a large scale. Weaving, quilting, wood carving and oil painting are techniques which work for me because they are slow and tactile.
While I work I reflect on my topic and it starts to refine, my hands start to think for me.
This is why it is important that I produce my work by myself. I trust my intuition and let the challenges that I face in the execution shape my work.The restrictions in my skill and the will of the material, show in the end result.
By accepting the imperfections the work ascends beyond my plan and becomes better; something that cannot be repeated.
Directness is more important than a seamless stitch.
CV
Education:
Academy of Fine Arts, Helsinki
Master of Fine art, Painting department
2023-2025
Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Amsterdam
Bachelor of Art and Design,Textile department
2019-2022
Free Art School Helsinki
2018-2019
Upper Secondary School of Visual Arts, Helsinki
2014-2018
Exhibitions:
Kuvan kevät
Academy of Fine Arts, Helsinki
May 2024
Home is where the haunt is
Château Jolimont,Brussels
September 2022
Graduation show
Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Amsterdam
July 2022
Angel Energy
M4, Amsterdam
May 2023
Treating/Treated/Loving/Loved by CranberryJuice
4bid Gallery,Amsterdam
March 2022
Deep storage
Hogehilweg 13,Amsterdam
October 2019
Grants:
Aune Laaksosen Taidesäätiö
December 2022
Other:
Internship, weaving
Gleb Maiboroda
July 2023, Amsterdam
Commissioned work, “Those who fly at sunset”
Restaurant Bona Fide,Helsinki
August 2022
Panel talk
Salwa foundation
Gallery W139, Amsterdam
July 2023