Lilli Haapala
Expeditions (to places that don’t exist)
7 February – 1 March 2020
Fata Morgana, a mirage of a floating island seen at sea, brings to mind Utopia, a fictional island where a balance exists between ideals and reality. The word Utopia is derived from Greek, ou (not) and topos (place) – a place that doesn’t exist.
Island phenomena and utopias are the key themes of Haapala’s exhibition. During 2016–2019, she worked on six islands: Korppoo, Örö, Utö, Kökar, Russky Island in Vladivostok and the Andaman Islands. Working by the sea has inspired Haapala to examine the natural landscape, water and communities from new perspectives. Paradise is lost, but a utopia is waiting for us in the future – as a direction, idea or insight to pursue.
The works featured in the exhibition are an expedition into images, reality and boundaries. They explore a human’s relationship with natural environments and otherness as well as the interfaces between dreams and reality. The works are video and object installations.
Haapala works mainly with media art and installations, currently focusing on the multiyear project “Searching for Utopia”. This work has been supported by Art Foundation Merita’s Promising Young Artist Award (2018–2019). Through her works, Haapala takes part in post-humanistic discussions and explores the space between the observer and the subject – human and non-human, imagination and reality. In 2017, Haapala earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in time and space arts from the Academy of Fine Arts in Helsinki. She has also studied photography at Turku Arts Academy (2011–2015).
The exhibition has been supported by the Paulo Foundation and the artist’s work has been supported by the Varsinais-Suomi Regional Fund and Art Foundation Merita. Thank you.
Contact information
www.lillihaapala.com
lilli.haapala(a)gmail.com
