Ilya Orlov: God Out of a Washing Machine

God Out of a Washing Machine is the first large solo exhibition in Helsinki by Ilya Orlov, who is known in Finland for his conceptualist re-enactment of the former Lenin museum-apartment in Hakaniemi in 2017, the Dadaist intervention into Seurasaari Museum display in 2016, and internationally, for his participating in Manifesta-10 in 2014, as well as, recently, for co-founding and co-editing Shy Plumber, Anti-War Journal of Art and Anti-Art.

In Orlov’s new show, his trademark manner of hacking traditional exhibition formats, toying with contemporary art clichés, and poeticising art administration jargon is pushed a little bit further. A personal exhibition looks like a group show of mutually incompatible artists; wall texts that normally explain the exhibits become exhibits themselves, to be explained by the works. Finally, the exhibition statement, instead of telling explicitly what it is all about, offers a piece of 'international art English' so convoluted that it makes one nostalgic about the clarity of e-flux announcements.

Artistic mediums presented: painting, lithography, watercolour, kinetic sculpture, text, readymade, photography, assemblage, installation.
 

Forum Box

13.1.-5.2.2023 

Daily 12.00-17.00

Free entry