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In the beginning of autumn, Helsinki Contemporary brings to the Artek Helsinki store a collection of works specifically created for the space by visual artist Ville Andersson. The whole continues the collaboration between Helsinki Contemporary and Artek Helsinki within the framework of the gallery’s Art in Space (Taide tilassa) concept, and as a Companion Event of Helsinki Design Week.

Ville Andersson’s works combining drawing and vinyl stickers are created on tinted papers carefully selected by the artist. The delicate and airy works move in a dialogue between the organic and the graphic, with a quiet and minimalistic touch, characteristic of the artist. Read the artist's thoughts on the series below.

Ville Andersson (b. 1986) graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts, Helsinki, in 2012. He received the Young Artists of the Year Award and solo exhibitions at Tampere Art Museum and at Aboa Vetus & Ars Nova in 2015. In 2018, he was a Watermill Center artist-in-residence in New York and, in 2020, he was awarded an Inga Maren Otto Fellowship by Watermill. Andersson has had solo exhibitions at LOKO Gallery and Diesel Art Gallery in Tokyo, and has participated in group exhibitions e.g. in Germany, Japan, and Italy. His works are in the main public collections in Finland: Saastamoinen Foundation; Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma; Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation; and Amos Rex; and in public and private collections in Finland and abroad.

Ville Andersson

Helsinki Contemporary x Artek Helsinki

7.9.-2.10.2021


Artek Helsinki

Keskuskatu 1 B, 00100 Helsinki

Mon–Sat 10–18

"I often work around certain key words and themes. In February, I presented a large new series of works at Helsinki Contemporary. Monumental wastelands and deserts were at the focal point of the series. 

This time, I wanted to find my subjects nearer, from my own personal sentiments. I wanted to create something frank, and channel my own thoughts and emotions from the past six months. The importance of nature, everyday life as well as animal and human encounters was emphasized in the creation of the works.

In the formal language I strived for the same immediacy as in my last exhibition, through clear and graphic solutions. The technique in all the new works is ink and pencil. With them, I have createdprecise and detailed texture surfaces to the images. Light is always brighter in relation to shadow – I have added white vinyl sticker cut in different shapes to many of the works as a contrast to the ink.

In general, my artistic practice consists of diverse projects and working techniques. They give way to different creative impulses and a possibility to try and carry out very different ideas and subjects. Although there might be big differences between the projects, I aim to create continuity through them, and a cohesive visual world to my work.

Artek is dear to me. While working on this small series of works, my goal was that it both fits in the Helsinki store and brings its own little addition to the space. Accustomed to working in a white, empty gallery space, it’s inspiring to see the works in an environment where they are in dialogue with other objects."

 
Ville Andersson