Leena Pukki
The Culture of the Female Bear
24.6.-17.7.2022
The Culture of the Female Bear is a fictional section of a museum, showcasing a Bronze Age people and its culture. Its social order was matriarchal and animistic, and it was horizontally organized, like direct democracy.
The installation includes a variety of elements, such as imaginary archeological findings, the people’s reconstructed ritual items and pictures of rock paintings. They give a picture of the social order, beliefs and rituals related to the culture. The items were found in an area belonging to the municipality of Hiitola, now part of Russia.
The Culture of the Female Bear is a utopia taking place in history. There is little information about the Bronze Age in Finland, and not many items are left from that era. Differences related to one’s social status existed in the Stone Age, but it is considered that more significant social stratification occurred in the Bronze Age when many communities developed into chiefdoms. However, there were remarkable differences in lifestyles, the level of organization and hierarchical structures between communities and areas.
The Culture of the Female Bear is an exception to the assumed historical development and a mental journey to a period before Christian patriarchy, dualistic and hierarchical views, maps and violent male leaders.
Leena Pukki (b. 1984) is a visual artist who is interested in cultural hegemonies, relationship between human and other species, history, utopias, feelings and power relations. Pukki’s techniques vary from media art to large scale mural painting and installation. She received her MA from the Aalto University School of Art and Design in 2015 and BA from Lahti University of Applied Sciences Art Institute in 2007.
The casting of the bronze sculptures in the exhibition is done by Suvi Forssén.
Thank you
The Finnish Cultural Foundation
Oskar Öflunds Stiftelse
Suvi Forssén
Raimo Jaatinen
Olli Hopia
Hannakaisa Oksanen
Contact details
leena.pukki(a)gmail.com
www.leenapukki.com
Instagram: leenapukki
