work from the studio

These are some of the small pieces that I've been working on in the last month here at KulttuuriKauppila. I've put them together to photograph and its interesting how it changes them. They've been placed around the studio in different ways whilst in progress so I think this format is the direction they are heading in. What interests me is the nature of how the paint and tar create spaces that suggest huge vistas and the collage constructs another layer of this visual narrative. The decorative motifs seem to disrupt and at other times fix the spaces. I'm working on how to play with these elements as they are all so much a part of what my experience in Finland suggests to me.

trip to southern lapland

Have returned from a trip up north to Roveniemi with my partner Jane and so glad to get back to the studio and apartment and see my new finnish friends - it feels like home.  KulttuuriKauppila is a very special place and the residency is having such a creative impact. Today the temperature with windchill is minus 35 and the photos that follow I hope give a feel of what its like being in sub zero temperatures. Most of them are taken in Syote where we also visited and its a landscape that is enchanting and scary, particularly when lost.  We learnt to cross country ski and off we went into the frozen wilderness....

the point where we are seriously lost

we make a decision....

and finally we reach a landmark and know our sense of direction was right...

frozen but relieved !

the ice road across the frozen sea

the frozen sea

the ice road

and of course what should I find there .......

work from the studio & lace lamp

I've discovered tar and its amazing to work with. It comes from the trees and was the main industry here for many years. It was sent all over the world mainly to glue the wood in boats. The smell cures everything along with vodka and saunas and if none of these work ...it is your time.  Have been listening to talks on the radio and podcasts from the Tate - a fantastic resource - and key thoughts stick in my mind. One of which is 'wilderness is a state of mind' from the 'Wilderness to Wasteland' talk.  For whatever reason this is resonating with me as I move through this snowbound landscape with a frozen river  that at the same time has neatly laid out houses and hey - I've found my first caravan ! Enjoy........Veronica
PS. To Linda... as it happens I am reading Tove Jansson - The True Deceiver - yes very apt...