Maailmojen välissä

Maailmojen välissä (Between worlds) is an ongoing interdisciplinary project where found pieces of driftwood form the basis for artistic exploration as well as ecological and philosophical reflection. One of my aims with this project is to deepen my connection to nature and the landscape that I'm witnessing. The process – i.e. exploring the outdoors while collecting material and modifying it by carving and painting for example – is as important as the finished artwork itself. One could think of this as an extension to the tradition of landscape painting: rather than creating a rectangle shaped window to a landscape, I spend time in it, move through it, and experience it with my whole body and all the senses. The pictures, texts, colors and shapes are a form of documenting and sharing that experience, and the pieces of driftwood are physical memories of it. When I paint for example, I try to capture a mood or a detail: a shadow of a tree, a rock on the shore, light reflected from the moving surface of water.

To me, driftwood can be a symbol for many things: the cycles of life and nature, imperfection, change, feeling lost or incomplete, interaction between human and nature etc. And the coast, where I collect them, is a place filled with mystery. It's where two different worlds – water and earth – collide. It reminds me that change is always happening. Nothing is ever complete or perfect and nothing ever truly disappears. When walking along the shoreline, one can also sense our impact on the environment: not only pieces of wood from old docks, piers, boats and buildings, but tons of plastic scattered across the landscape. We all know this, but sometimes it's easy to look away and forget. 

Artworks of this project have been exhibited in Imatra Art Museum, The Realm of Fine Arts in Mänttä and Kulturhus Björkboda among others. When showing this work, I like to experiment with different ways of placing them into the space, giving them new meanings as time goes by.