A discussion delving into the background and themes of Maiju Salmenkivi's 'Building Pyramids' exhibition will be held at the gallery on Saturday, September 30, starting at 2 pm.Talking with Salmenkivi will be author Anna-Kaari Hakkarainen.
Maiju Salmenkivi's paintings fuse urban landscapes with nature, harmonizing geometric shapes and organic elements. Her "Building Pyramids" exhibit spans scales from cellular to colossal, featuring power plants, coal mounds, and architectural icons. Salmenkivi draws inspiration from the parallels between human anatomy and architecture, intertwining minute details with pyramid grandeur.
Architecture, interiors, and their connection to nature have always captivated Salmenkivi. The journey from factory buildings and coal heaps to pyramids unexpectedly emerged in the autumn of 2022. An excursion to the power plant in Hanasaari, Helsinki, proved pivotal, giving the exhibition its direction. The exhibition’s title in Finnish refers to sculptor Harry Kivijärvi’s book, Miten Pyramidit rakennettiin? (How Were the Pyramids Built?) (1990).
Hanasaari's power plant and coal heaps, akin to pyramids, conceal mysteries, evoking contemporary civilization's enigma. Pyramids symbolize Salmenkivi's artistic process, shrouded in mystery and narrative exploration through subtle observations.
Thank you to the Finnish Cultural Foundation, Arts Promotion Centre Finland, and Alfred Kordelin Foundation for supporting the artist’s work.
’Building Pyramids’ runs through October 22.
Discover more about the exhibition >>>>
Maiju Salmenkivi, ’Imperial Perspectives’, 2020–2023, acrylic, oil and spray paint on canvas,
diptych, 120 x 90 cm, 120 x 90 cm
Photo: Jussi Tiainen
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