OBJEKTI 4 is an outdoor exhibition of contemporary sculpture, installation and environmental art in and around Espoon keskus, 14 June – 2 Sep 2018. The exhibition is curated and produced by Andy Best / Espoo Kunsthalle.
OBJEKTI returns to Espoon keskus this summer for its fourth edition with a diverse and exciting line up of artists and projects. This year there is a strong focus on ecological and social themes. Many works have been especially created for OBJEKTI 4 exhibition and are site-specific to their locations in Espoon keskus. The exhibition includes twelve projects representing different forms of contemporary art – sculpture, installation, sound art, community and participatory projects.
The artists taking part are: Heini Aho, Art & Process (Ari Björn and Heini Matveinen), Bartaku, Ramina Habibollah, Parsa Kamehkhosh, Sanna Karlsson-Sutisna, Petri Kuljuntausta, Maria Mastola, Mechanics of Conformity (Rosamaría Bolom, Edwina Goldstone, Sepideh Rahaa, and Arlene Tucker), Tuula Närhinen, Tiina Raitanen, Satu-Minna Suorajärvi.
In addition to the sculpture and environmental art exhibition that runs throughout the summer, there are free art workshops organised for children in collaboration with Trapesa and Entresse library. On Espoo Day (Espoo-päivä), August 25th 2018, there will be art, music and dance performances and happenings around Espoontori.
OBJEKTI 4 exhibition and all events are admission free.
Espoon keskus
Espoon keskus is historically and socially important. The area includes the medieval Espoo Cathedral which dates back to the 15th century, as well as the city’s bureaucratic heart represented by 1970’s concrete brutalist architecture. Recently Espoo politicians have voted to demolish the long-deserted, some would say ugly, city hall to make way for more housing. There is a lot of lower income rental housing in the area, both private and publically owned, with a higher than average immigrant population, which is also reflected in the retail provision with a number of ethnic food stores spread throughout the centre.
Currently there is an effort to revitalise the area, with a lot of new construction work being carried out. The new Entresse shopping centre, together with the renovated Espoontori, have energised the whole area. Particularly Entresse library acts as an inspiring social hub, with activities for all ages as well as special spaces for young people to hang out. Espoo’s IKEA is close by, across the area known as Kirkkojärvi, which itself may soon undergo change – back to being a lake again, if the city’s latest proposal is accepted.
Surprise and Delight
The aim of OBJEKTI is to bring surprise and delight to local inhabitants. By installing sculptures and installations into the everyday surroundings, it is hoped ordinary people will be provoked and challenged to look at their local neighbourhoods with fresh eyes. Surprising juxtapositions, new materials, shapes and forms placed into the city and suburban landscape can help to trigger positive emotions and open thoughts and eyes to new horizons.
Art works reflect the title and theme of the exhibition – OBJECT. An object can be a thing, it can also be something that triggers emotion, or it can be a goal or aim we strive towards. In computer programming language an object is a data structure. Sculpture, of all the arts, is associated with physical presence, with being “a thing” in space. We have particularly looked for art works that challenge the notion of “objectivity” in public space.