Kaarina Kaikkonen: The Tears Shed Because of You

Sculptor Kaarina Kaikkonen makes installations out of recycled items of clothing that radiate a powerful presence. 

She began using discarded clothing as her raw material back in the 1980s, giving worthless, worn-out and tattered garments a second life as works of art. Kaikkonen handles her raw material with warmth and respect for its previous owners. The resurrected items of clothing convey memories and a sense of time’s passage, embodying a wealth of meanings in their material presence. 

People can imagine how the fabrics would feel against their skin, how they provide warmth and protection, or perhaps they might remind of a person, place or moment in the past. A whole life can be metonymically condensed in loops, stitches, threads and buttonholes, invoking experiences both intimate and collective. Kaikkonen’s new exhibition is themed around nature, featuring twists and folds of fabric transformed into flowers, foliage and tussocks of vegetation.

Kaarina Kaikkonen (b. 1952) is one of Finland’s most internationally acclaimed artists. She is known as a sculptor and creator of installations that reinvent urban landscapes and foster communality. Kaikkonen is an honorary member of the Finnish Sculptors' Association, and she is the recipient of numerous awards.
 

Galerie Forsblom

26.1.-18.2.2024

Tue-Fri 11.00-18.00

Sat-Sun 12.00-16.00

Free entry