Finnish photographic art extensively on display in Madrid
14.02.2014
The ARCOmadrid art fair brings photographic artists from the Gallery Taik Persons and the Helsinki School to the Spanish capital in February 2014.
In recent years fairs have become important arenas for artists where contacts are established and artistic activities are presented to international players. The Helsinki School actively supports the activities and internationalisation of its artists already during their studies. Students and alumni of Aalto University can be seen at the fair this year in many different forums.
Gallery Taik Persons, which represents the Helsinki School artists, is taking part in ARCOmadrid with its own exhibition. One part of this exhibition includes works by the Maanantai Collective, as well as ten photographic artists - Joakim Eskildsen, Sandra Kantanen, Sanna Kannisto, Pertti Kekarainen, Santeri Tuori, Tanja Koljonen, Anni Leppälä, Nelli Palomäki, Mikko Rikala and Maija Savolainen.
Finland is the guest of honour at this year’s fair. The Finnish input into the fair comprises 13 galleries and the #FocusFinland pavilion, where works of photographer Niko Luoma of the Helsinki School will be on display. Curating the Finnish contribution to the fair is Curator Leevi Haapala of the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art.
Other Helsinki School artists will also be on display at ARCOmadrid. Hannu Karjalainen's video installations will be seen at the Callao Square and Wilma Hurskainen's work Growth will be seen at the Matadero Madrid Contemporary Art Center as part of the #FocusFinland programme.
In addition, Gallery Taik Persons Director Timothy Persons, who was recently named Adjunct Professor of the School of Arts, Design and Architecture, has curated the Everybody is Nobody for Somebody exhibition at the Banco Santander Exhibition Gallery. The exhibition is compiled from the collection of Grażyna Kulczyki, a major Polish art collector, and includes the works of more than 100 renowned top artists.
The ARCOmadrid International Contemporary Art Fair will be held 19-23 February 2014. It is an event in which artists of the Helsinki School have participated every year since 2008. Each year about 160 000 visitors attend the fair.
The Helsinki School consists of photographic artists who are students, alumni or teachers at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture. They are united by their conceptual approach to photographic art. Gallery Taik Persons, which represents Helsinki School artists, has operated in Berlin since 2005.
Further Information
Professor Jyrki Parantainen, +358 40 5081081, jyrki.parantainen [at] aalto [dot] fi
Adjunct Professor Timothy Persons + 49 151 4194 0900, berlin [at] gallerytaik [dot] com
Coordinator Terhi Tuomi, +358 50 441 9361, terhi.tuomi [at] aalto [dot] fi