HAA Baltic 2023-25

The first joint exhibition Under the Surface – Under the Surface – Under the Surface was on display at the HAA Gallery in Suomenlinna 2.6.–1.7.  The exhibition was opened by Anneli Temmes, Chairman of the Finnish-Lithuanian Cultural Foundation, and Jaanus Elvre from the Embassy of Estonia. The Under the Surface exhibition featured a total of sixteen artists' views of three countries as well as discoveries rising from different depths through different means of art.

(Opening,1.6.2023 | kuva: Eija Saarivirta)

The exhibition featured paintings, textile art, sculptures and media art. 

Artists: 
Ilai Elias Lehto, Kirsi Kivivirta, Marjukka Korhonen, Siina Levonoja, Tiia Matikainen (FI) 
Liisi Eelmaa, Elis Saareväli, Angela Soop, Edgar Tedresaar, Alar Tuul, (EE) 
Eglė Ganda Bogdanienė ja Jolanta Vazalinskienė, Patricija Gilytė, Agnė Jonkutė, Julija Pociūtė, Lolita Tučinskaitė (LT). 

The exhibition is curated by: Satu Kalliokuusi (FI), Eeva Muona (FI), Tiiu Rebane (EE) ja Evelina Januškaitė (LT). 

The exhibition launched cooperation between Finland and the Baltic countries, which will be developed in the future to convey diverse expertise. In addition to exhibitions, export, exchange and brokerage activities in the visual arts include residencies, symposia, seminars and workshops.  
 
The John Nurminen Foundation – an award-winning producer for his cultural work – collaborated with the Helsinki Artists' Association in the exhibition.

At the same time, during the summer months, the John Nurminen Foundation organised an exhibition entitled The Unknown Baltic Sea at Levyhalli in Suomenlinna. Other events, such as workshops, were also planned, in which the Helsinki Artists' Association was involved. 
The exhibition through art and science drew attention to a valuable cause called the Baltic Sea, which must now be continuously saved. The Under the Surface exhibition was also an independent part of the Unknown Baltic Sea.

(Pop-up workshop at the exhibition Unknown Baltic Sea  in the courtyard of Levyhalli, instructor Piia Kokkarinen | photo: Eija Saarivirta)

The second joint exhibition Under the Surface took place at Gallery Arka in Vilnius. The search theme for Unpredictable Futures was land, water and air. The theme brought together current topics that are now on the surface both in the field of art and in global discussion and life as a whole. Under the Surface was part of the Lithuanian Artists' Association's exhibition The 2nd International Art and Science Triennial "UFNA: Unpredictable Futures", which took place simultaneously in Klaipeda.
(Photos: Opening at Gallery Arka | Eija Saarivirta)

The exhibition was open 29.8. – 28.9.2024, Gallery Arka, Aušros Vartų St. 7, Vilna

The works of Estonian artists reflected the growing environmental awareness during the Soviet era, which formed the basis of national identity. In their works, the artists explore ecosemiotics and ecocriticism, examining how these ideas manifest themselves in contemporary art.

Finnish artists presented works inspired by the intangible elements of nature – light, falling water, wind, waves and the roar of waterfalls. The works dealt with the environment through the senses, reflecting on the changing seasons and the fragility of life.

Lithuanian artists emphasized ecological and sympoetic fluency, processuality. The essence is a natural transformation, in which water is emphasized as a movement, a constant change that leads not only to the emergence of life, but also to its disintegration.

The event was organised by Gallery Arka in cooperation with the Helsinki Artists' Association and the Estonian Painters' Association.

Curators
Evelina Januškaitė (LT), Satu Kalliokuusi (FI), Eeva Muona (FI) ja Tiiu Rebane (EE):
Exhibition design: Audrius Klimas

Artists
Lithuania: Marija Marcelionytė-Paliukė, Eglė Pilkauskaitė, Gintarė Urmonaitė, 
Emilija Čepulė, Andrius Erminas, Arturas Valiauga, LABA NEBULA (Kristina Švenčionytė and Arturas 
Ustinovas)
Finland: Eeva-Liisa Isomaa, Iida Valkonen, Pauliina Jokela, Pekka Parviainen, Satu-Minna Suorajärvi, 
Susanna Iivanainen, Verna Kovanen
Estonia: Erki Kasemets, Kai Kaljo, Jane Remm, Katrin Valgemäe, Veiko Klemmer, Vilen Künnapu

 

On January 15, 2025, the third exhibition of the HAA Baltic (FinBalt) cooperation project opened in the ARS Project Room in Tallinn: "Under the surface. Environmental ideologies."

(Artists and curators at the opening | Photo: Eija Saarivirta)

The exhibition explores contemporary thought patterns and their spheres of influence as factors shaping the environment.   

Lithuanian artworks explore humanity's complex and ever-changing active relationship with nature. Finland's selection highlights the huge waste problem of our time and at the same time offers paradoxical glimmers of hope. The Estonian exhibition focuses on exploring the intuitive and analytical abilities of human consciousness in the context of the wider environmental crisis.

Curators: Satu Kalliokuusi (FI), Eeva Muona (FI), Evelina Januškaitė (LT), Tiiu Rebane (EE)  

Artists

Finland: Jaakko Autio, Teemu Mäki, Alexander Salvesen, Sara Pathirane/Laura Pietiläinen    
Lithiania: Gytis Arošius, Sinaima Kontautė, Emilija Noreikaitė, Karolina Ūla Valentaitė    
Estonia: Angela Soop, Jane Remm/Marta Konovalov, Grisli Soppe-Kahar, Lilian Mosolainen, Johanna Mudist, Pille Ernesaks, Veiko Klemmer  

On 22 January, an open workshop was held with artists Jane Remm and Marta Konovalov as part of the public programme of the exhibition.

left, Teemu Mäki: Plastic Ocean, installation
right, Karolina Ūla Valentaitė (LT), Video installation on the front table

left, Jaakko Autio: Mirror, water pool/ sound installation
right, Jane Remm and Marta Konovalov (EE), part of the installation

Photos: Eija Saarivirta