SHOWROOM HELSINKI: TEASER
20 January – 17 February 2013
Showroom Helsinki proudly presents TEASER – a selection of works by the most influential young Finnish contemporary artists. Founded in 2008, the gallery Showroom Helsinki is showing the highlights of its programme at Salon Dahlmann Berlin.
Combining a critical perspective and meticulous craftsmanship with a humorous and aesthetic treatment, the works of Jiri Geller, Mari Keto, Jani Leinonen and Aurora Reinhard explore the boundaries between constructed, commercial culture and individual, materialistic addiction.
TEASER presents these prominent Finnish artists by composing a strong body of works from international private and institutional collections. By including elaborate sculptures, accusatory installations and tenacious imagery, the exhibition provokes observant attention to the prevailing phenomena of society.
Jiri Geller, b.1970, explores the contemporary face of pop culture with menacing precision. His accomplished, detailed sculptures serve up cold irony and raw critique by questioning the dominant, neoliberal iconophilia. He explores the idea that everything in our society deemed solid, permanent and valuable is in fact melting, suspect and utterly transitory.
Mari Keto, b.1975, examines the distinctions between value and consumption in her works. She focuses on the tensions and structures of our contemporary culture by using predominantly diamonds, crystals, pearls and other materials used in making jewellery to depict icons and symbols in her delicate installations and portraits.
Jani Leinonen, b.1978, plays with the systems of commodity exchange and their corresponding marketing strategies. He throws light on the tactics of commercial operations by turning them into objects of ridicule, parodying the unstated assumptions of our marketing society and economic daily life.
Aurora Reinhard, b.1975, creates controversial artworks that explore tensions and structures in contemporary society – in particular our obsessive representation of gender and female sexuality. Reinhard uses video, photography and multidimensional media in her hyperrealistic works in order to fetishize everyday objects.
Artist Talk with Jani Leinonen and Jiri Geller
Saturday 2nd February 2013 from 14.00 to 16.00 at Salon Dahlmann – In the company of the Minister of Culture and Sport in Finland, Mr Paavo Arhinmäki..
Showroom Helsinki Lönnrotinkatu 16 L 10, 00120 Helsinki Finland l www.showroomhelsinki.com l info@showroomhelsinki.com l Tuomas Zetterberg: +358 407 678 143 tuomas@showroomhelsinki.com Aura Seikkula: +358 503 461 771 l aura@showroomhelsinki.com