Yarn Visions

Contemporary artists generate new spirit into old handicraft traditions. One of the most famous artists in the exhibition is New York based Olek (Agata Oleksiak, b. 1978). Together with refugees, immigrants and local women she wrapped a whole house with pink crochets in the centre of Kerava. Since the beginning of August Our Pink House has reminded of the importance of home, hope and dreams.

Other international artists are Russian Tanya Akhmetgalieva (b. 1983), Icelandic Rósa Sigrún Jónsdóttir (b. 1962), and Latvian mathematician Daina Taimina (b. 1954) now holding a professorship at Cornell University. Taimina has crocheted hyperbolic forms to make geometric equations more understandable. The White cloud, carried out with the assistance of Latvian volunteers, is accompanied by beautiful pink forms crocheted by residents of Kerava.

Finnish artists also have a strong hold on yarn-based visual arts. Niina Mantsinen’s (b. 1986) graffiti rugs with bold, street art expression are accompanied by Kaija Papu’s (b. 1980) crocheted police car. Papu has searched material for her latest needlepoint works from the adult entertainment pages on the Internet under “romantic love”. Liisa Hietanen’s (b. 1981) impressive, near hyper-realistic “Villagers” blend in with the public. Her portrayal of everyday commodities is striking.

The Yarn Visions exhibition includes a strong participatory aspect. After the completion of Our Pink House the capable hands of the volunteers have crocheted for Daina Taimina and created a harvest installation of yarn. Textile design students from the Metropolia University of Applied Sciences invite the audience to supplement their Baltic Sea installation and to raise marine pollution awareness.

The exhibition is curated by Doctor of Arts Minna Haveri.