Melancholy Diorama and the Wonders of Collage – studio phase

lona Valkonen, Mikko Kallio & Niina Lehtonen Braun
24.3.-2.4.2023

Opening Friday March 24th, 6-10 PM

Artist Talk & Finissage Saturday April 1st, 5 PM -Artist talk moderated by Jenni Roth

The exhibition explores collage as a metaphor for a physical and mental collapse and recovery.

COLLAGE
“In our world of material consumption, of neglect, it is important to use cheap materials.”(1)
“Thank you for always reminding me that rules are merely tendencies, not truths, and genre borders only as real as our imaginations small.” (2)

COLLAPSE AND RECOVERY
“It must be this mixture of desperation and enthusiasm.” (3)
“Thoreau was able to enjoy the sunrise without coffee.” (!) (4)

NIINA LEHTONEN BRAUN
“On April 30th 2009, I wrote in my notebook; I would like to draw a picture of every day for the rest of my life. – I haven’t started yet” (NLB)
“What a disgraceful lapse! Nothing added to my disquisition, life allowed to waste like a tap left running. Eleven days unrecorded.” (5)
b.1975, based in Berlin, Germany and Lieksa, Finland, starting materials: mental mud and ink

MIKKO KALLIO
“My art making is its own kind of wasteland, where the weeds are allowed to play.” (MK)
“Useless objects appear in a new light.” (MK)
“Krümelgeister = Muruhaamuja” (6)
b.1971, based in Tampere, Finland, starting materials: pencil and broken tray

ILONA VALKONEN
“An eyewitness cannot choose what he has to testify to – the only thing he can influence is the accuracy of his testimony.” (IV)
“Don’t worry – everything is going to be amazing.” (7)
b.1980, based in Loviisa, Finland, starting materials: plush and ass

EXPLORATION
HilbertRaum functions as a petri dish for Lehtonen Braun, Kallio and Valkonen.
The exhibition lives and changes during the opening hours.

********

1. Isa Genzken
2. Ocean Vuong
3. Newspaper clipping
4. G.K. Chesterton
5. Virginia Woolf´s journal
6. Paul Celan / translation Riikka Uhlig
7. Text seen on a T-shirt

Opening times:
opening Fridays: 18-22
other Fridays 16-19
Sat & Sun 14-19

http://www.ilonavalkonen.com/
https://mikkokallio.com/
niina-lehtonen-braun.com

With kind support by Arts Promotion Centre Finland, Kone Foundation and Kordelin Foundation.