MIKROKOSMOS
Sepän talo, (Blacksmiths House)
Rauma, Finland
22nd May - 30th June 2015
Mikrocosmos, Rauma, Finland is a project where five artists fom diverse arts practice worked experimentally, exploring the intersections between human life, art and science at Sepän talo, a large, disused house.Raumars Artist in Residence Irene Rogan invited Tarja Kyllijoki, Katarina Mannio, and Leena Vainio , to work with her in an unconventional way towards the creation of art that uses the model of the microcosm as an artistic proposition and is engaged with the practice of research and experimentation as a public act. Throughout the project the artists opened the doors for ‘public observation’ of the works-in-progress.
Irene Rogan
Durational performative installation
Irene Rogan and Jari Sorjonen
Collaboration #1
photography and installation
Still Life
'Still Life' is an exploration of the coal store unseen for decades. Jari ad Irene elevate this abandoned space and the found humble objects through photography, installations and text.
Irene Rogan and Jari Sorjenon
Collaboration #2
Installation and photography
da Vinci's Treasure
'Da Vinci's Treasure' created with photographer Jari Sorjenon, uses found abandoned objects seemingly untouched for several decades in the derelict cellar of the house. Whilst exploring this site and using natural light, the objects were photographed in situ then carefully removed, cleaned or painted and placed on velvet-swathed plinths in the ''salon' on the first floor, where there had been small sections of wallpaper gilded with gold paint, this process was documented and a selection of photographs was exhibited alongside the plinth work. Da Vinci's Salon' uses found materials and is site responsive to create an imagined salon inspired by Da Vinci's drapery drawings and in acknowledgement of 'the civilizational heritage impact of Da Vinci, as described by the Finnish at that time.
Irene Rogan
Installation
Breath of God
‘Breath of God’ is a spontaneous response to the small space at Sepän talo. Through the threshold of the open window the external world of the blossom tree, the garden and the light breath of air that entered the space carrying summer fragrances from the flowers. During the process of experimentation it brought to mind the following spiritual text from the New Testament:
‘The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound thereof, but cannot tell from where it came, and where it goes: so is every one that is born of the Spirit’.
The work explores this mysterious notion of the wind and water as the Spirit of God. Twelve bottles are placed on the floor containing water and forget-me-nots from the garden, layers of white muslin cloth are suspended from the ceiling. These found and bought materials refer to the symbolism found in spiritual writing and imagery in Christianity concerning the Holy Spirit. The key element to this installation is the animating presence of a breeze flowing through the work, which is not controllable, only made visible in the movement of the cloth and in the nature outside. Located on the wall small blackboards bear faded chalked words written over and over ‘Breath of God’, Spirit of Christ, Henkäys Jumala.
Local Christian Pastor Mehis Metsala Pastor of Free Church Rauma, Finland was invited to collaborate on the interpretation of the words and imagery for ‘Breath of God’ from a spiritual perspective.
Mehis Metsala writes:
'Two aspects come to my mind the wind in the Biblical text is a metaphor describing the movements of the Spirit and as such it emphasizes the unpredictability of God. His thoughts, His ways and His dealings with us do not fit into any known pattern of ours. The sense of wonder is something we deeply need and often unconsciously seek.
‘The Breath of God’ is something so unique that only when we experience it, we feel really alive. We are designed to live the life God has prepared for us and only in union with Him we live in a deepest sense of the word'.
Katariina Mannio
Drawing intervention
BEFORE - AFTER
As a printmaker Katariina Mannio uses woodblocks and very precise drawing techniques. In complete contrast to this, during Mikrokosmos she created an experimental drawing on a large scale to bring nature into her space. The increasing dimensions of the drawings reflected a sense of the room being taken over by the nature. Inspiration for her work was taken from the nearby Appletree where she spends time with her family.
As the work grew and covered the walls and ceiling, the imagery gradually transforms from delicate blossoms to stark silhouettes of jagged branches reflecting the reality of changing seasons and the appearance of nature.
Leena Vanio
Installation and Performance
The house Sepän talo made me think of my childhood memories in Rauma and that is why I worked using cosy matrials, such as white bed sheets and dress maker`s strings and nails. I also used linen fiber which is fragile and yet tough, just like this house.
During the process I found myself thinking of fragility, externality and intuition which are some of the themes of my installation 'Comfort' in two rooms and performance 'Milky White' which took place in the garden.
This project was exciting, intensive and constantly changing.
Otan ja annan takaisin - Taking and Giving
'Taking and Giving is a week-long durational, performance. Quality of Drinking Water is important in Finland, distribution networks study the interaction phenomena between drinking water and materials employed in the infrastructure of buildings. The loan of the pipes for 'Otan ja annan takaisin' - ' Taking and giving' were generously provided by Nordic Water and Materials Institute SAMK and located as a part of the Satakunta University of Applied Sciences.University of Applied Sciences.
Thin Title
Tarja Kyllijoki
Eco Jewellery into artworks
Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.
Mikrokosmos provided an oppotunity to make experimental work that builds on ideas from 'Eco Jewellery' and for future developments.
Irene Rogan and Leena Vanio
Collaboration #3
Installation and photography
SEAMLESS COMFORT
I asked Leena to collaborate on a series of photographs in her exhibition space placing her within the work she had produced titled 'Comfort'. In immersing her in her installation and reconfiguring elements,a dialogical conversation between photographer, artists and viewers took place. The directed performance and image of Leena as introducing new physical element into the work created a transformation into 'Seamless Comfort'.
