Marja Patrikainen & Tuukka Peltonen:
Strange Dale

The exhibition brings together mixed-media sculptures and woodcuts. Marja Patrikainen’s sculptures explore an alternative experience of nature. Assembled from recycled materials, her animal figures seem like dreamlike visions from another reality, while hinting at the consequences of overconsumption. In Tuukka Peltonen’s woodcuts, human figures inhabit striking natural landscapes. 

Marja Patrikainen (b. 1977) draws inspiration from dreams, the mythologies of different cultures, and pop culture. Her work is shaped by the aesthetics and material choices associated with Indigenous cultures and ITE art (Finnish contemporary folk art). She primarily uses materials that have been gifted, found, salvaged, or bought at flea markets. Her sculptures act as messengers from an imagined reality, addressing concerns about contemporary life. Art researcher Kari Yli-Annala writes: “The works engage with the viewer as if from the fringes of twilight—figures reaching out, born of the mythopoetics of the collective unconscious.” 

Tuukka Peltonen (b. 1975) works in woodcut, with the possibilities of the “vanishing block” technique playing a particularly important role in his practice. He began making woodcuts more than 25 years ago while studying at Kankaanpää Art School. The human figure has been central to Peltonen’s work from the outset. It becomes a symbol in relation to the surrounding environment, as the figures’ inner worlds bring the past into the present. His imagery makes room for dreamers and outsiders alike. 

“I approach my work with the mindset that each piece is part of the journey I am on. Whether a work is deemed ‘successful’ or not is of no consequence. The act of making art holds a significance far deeper than any final destination. I feel it is essential to try to understand the spirit that dwells within us—how best to nurture that spirit and maintain a connection to it.” 

HAA Gallery warmly welcomes visitors on Viapori Kekri, Saturday, October 31, from 12 noon to 6 pm. 

Notice! Opening hours: Tuesday–Thursday 12–6pm, Friday–Sunday 12–4pm