Anna-Leena Vilhunen
Desire of Deepening
15.8.–8.9.2024
Just like an excavator reveals the soil under the surface, artist Anna-Leena Vilhunen digs views out of the canvas. The artist’s long-lasting interest in heavy machinery and construction sites has become part of her artistic work, which she describes as conceptual digging. Layer by layer, personal observations and experiences appear in her colorful oil paintings.
For Vilhunen, a key element is immersing oneself in an observation. Her curiosity about her surroundings allows her to see even an everyday thing in a new light. The movement of an excavator begins to resemble dancing, and a passing metro train is like a line running through the landscape. The video installation Not Everything Is Visible at Once allows viewers to observe the activities on a construction site through the artist’s eyes. The music for the work was composed by Juha T. Koskinen.
The situations depicted in the works offer a broader picture of what the work entails and what can be seen in the environment when observed more closely. New construction may appear as automated efficiency that happens inevitably. Construction sites always permanently alter the landscape and the local ecosystem. In Vilhunen’s paintings, construction is not seen as a faceless change. Instead, the activities on a construction site come closer to the viewer. Just like a brush stroke is created by the artist, the movement of a machine is also controlled by the operator.
Vilhunen paints sound and movement. The excavator bucket is not frozen in the portrait, it continues to dance on the canvas. Instead of just picking out details, Vilhunen digs out the atmosphere, the essence. Her observations do not stop on the surface. Could the viewer follow the same approach and get closer to the works, beyond the surface – find brush strokes and memories that are not apparent, at least not immediately?
Henriikka Reitala and Minea Turtiainen
Anna-Leena Vilhunen (b. 1955) is a Helsinki-based visual artist who works with paintings and videos. In her new video, Not Everything Is Visible at Once (Galleria Huuto, 2024), she explores digging in many interconnected senses. When the excavator bucket and the artist’s brush move, something is found and something is covered. Vilhunen earned her Master of Fine Arts degree at the Academy of Fine Arts in 2002. She has also studied at the University of Art and Design Helsinki (now Aalto University), held numerous solo exhibitions and taken part in several juried joint exhibitions of the Finnish Painters’ Union. Vilhunen’s works are included in the Finnish state art collection, the Helsinki Art Museum collection and various private collections.
Thank you
Videoteam: Juha T. Koskinen, Jan Lehtola, Mika Koskinen, Arttu Peltomaa and Anni Raitio.
Contact details
anna-leena (at) anna-leenavilhunen.com
Instagram: visualartist_annaleenavilhunen
