The history of the material as part of the work. A trace made to the surface, a touch. The
lifespan of the material and it’s strong connection to the earth. It is only natural that all kinds
of things happen to it﹣it changes, rustles, wrinkles, creases, fades, becomes fragile,
perishes. However, in optimal circumstances it is practically eternal.
A paper can be a platform, a medium, a starting point, or the content. The six artists of the
exhibition have their own starting points, and they have travelled different paths to arrive at
the same material and concept. They are interested in the paper’s capacity of expression
and its character, how paper will eventually become part of the soil again. On one hand, it is strong, and, on the other, it has tendency to vanish﹣it would require merely one spark and the work would transform into ash.
The artists Susanna Autio, Outi Koivisto, Astri Laitinen, Emma Peura, Irma Tonteri and Maria Valkeavuolle share the love for paper, and together they have founded the association Helsingin Paperipaja ry. The association constitutes an artist community and an openpapermaking studio that produces contemporary art by using traditional craft methods.
The association also arranges papermaking courses. The Arts Promotion Center Finland and the Finnish Cultural Foundation have supported the founding of the studio.
www.paperipaja.com
https://www.instagram.com/helsinginpaperipaja/
https://www.facebook.com/HelsinginPaperipaja/
The exhibition opens on 16.2. at 17.00 with the artists present.