5–27 April 2025
MUU Helsinki Contemporary Art Centre
Cable Factory, Tallberginkatu 1 C, Helsinki
Opening hours: Tue–Fri 12:00–17:00, Sat–Sun 12:00–16:00

Opening of the exhibition on Saturday 5 April at 13:00 – 16:00
Opening speech Minka Heino, Chairperson of Artists’ Association MUU

Here we have the hand of Jesus the Savior that drove Dostoevsky insane, a pile of middle-aged men’s heads, saints’ feet, and sex-offending swans—soon to end up in the pot once Leda gets going. All sorts of things one might pick up from the world’s museums.

In the spring of 2023, photographic artist Mari Hokkanen briefly became an aristocrat, traveling by train for two months across Europe, loosely following the historical Grand Tour route and traditions. The Grand Tour, which began in the 17th century, was an educational journey and a rite of passage into adulthood for upper-class men. Travellers were expected to take an interest in Renaissance art, Greek mythology, and the collection of exotic objects. This tradition also gave rise to the art trade, resulting in thousands of forged souvenirs.

Hokkanen, too, collected art — by photographing, in a rather haphazard manner, details from museum and gallery works that captivated her. Upon returning home, she cut the photographs into pieces and reassembled them in her studio into new compositions, photo-based textiles, and kinetic sculptures. In her hands, Old Master paintings acquired a feminist and atheist perspectives, and she came to realize that in many ways, the world 600 years ago was astonishingly similar to today.

Helsinki-based photographic artist Mari Hokkanen (b. 1979) is known for the performative nature of her works. Her images are staged performances created for the camera and installations built in the studio, where repurposed materials and photographic prints serve as key components. Behind the bright colors often lies a dark message, softened by a naïve visual style.

Playful improvisation and an experimental approach to materials are central to her practice. In Hokkanen’s hands, photography transforms into many forms—kinetic sculptures, video works, and photo-based textiles.

Her works have been in solo and group exhibitions in Finland and abroad including shows at the Finnish Museum of Photography (2023), Porvoo Art Hall (2022), Photographic Centre Nykyaika (2021), and MUU Kaapeli, and Street Level Photoworks in Glasgow (2016). Hokkanen’s works are part of private collections as well as institutions such as the Saskia Collection, the Turku City Museum, and the Finnish State Art Collection.

The exhibition has been supported by
the Finnish Cultural Foundation
Olga and Vilho Linnamo Foundation

PROGRAM:

Helsinki Art Walk tour – Sunday 13 April at 13:30. Artist Mari Hokkanen present at the exhibition. Guide for the English language exhibition tours will be Jane Hughes.