Laura Laurila:
Green City

Laura Laurila’s exhibition Green City explores urban nature and the built
environment, drawing upon observations of her own residential surroundings. Laurila
is interested in the dialogue between the built environment and green spaces. The
exhibition’s title piece depicts a landscape in Töölönlahti Park, where abundant
meadow flower plantings delight city dwellers during the summer months. Laurila
also finds beauty in everyday places and views—in dilapidated buildings and
wild-growing weeds. Urban nature is not merely an aesthetic addition between
buildings; it is a vital part of the ecosystem that purifies the air, reduces noise, and
enhances the quality of life. Through her work, Laurila seeks to raise the question of
how we might better consider biodiversity and preserve valuable recreational areas
during construction processes.
Using acrylic inks and paints on canvas, Laurila creates works rooted in the
landscape painting tradition, aiming to capture an idea or emotion evoked by the
landscape itself. The rich saturation and translucency of acrylic inks allow for the
creation of diverse surface textures and a watercolor-like approach. Laurila is deeply
interested in colorism and color expression. Beyond depicting a specific location, her
works often capture a particular time of year or time of day.
Laura Laurila (b. 1980) lives and works in Tampere. She graduated as a visual artist
(Bachelor of Arts) from the Turku Arts Academy in 2022. Laurila is a member of the
Finnish Painters’ Union and the Tampere Artists’ Association; her work has been
exhibited at venues such as Rajatila in Tampere, Galleria Pleiku in Berlin, Galleria
Kulma at the Porvoo Art Hall, and Galleria Uusi Kipinä in Lahti. Alongside her artistic
practice, Laurila works as an untenured teacher at Tampere University, teaching art
studies for architecture students, and teaching art courses for young people for the
City of Tampere.