Annu Kapulainen
Crossing Boundaries
10.10.-3.11.2024
A boundary connects and separates. Depending on the situation, crossing a boundary can be brave and advisable, but it may also be offensive and illegal. I depict the crossing of bounda-ries through symbolic works that share a common theme – Russia’s war of aggression. My painting surfaces include old television screens, computer monitors and laptop screens.
The RGB color system is used to display colors on these devices, which is the exact opposite of the physical mixing of colors. From a painter’s perspective, the impossible becomes real: red, green and blue create all other colors, forming a spectrum of colors seen in a rainbow. At my exhibition, problems occur in the system. One color begins to dominate, and the colors of the rainbow fade. Brothers turn against each other, becoming fratricides.
Serving as an installation element, a red tape line connects two paintings (RGB and Red Ribbon) and creates a 14-meter boundary line on the gallery floor. It is as long as one edge of the square-shaped floor area in rhythmic gymnastics. Gymnasts are always penalized for crossing the boundary. According to the rules of rhythmic gymnastics, if the gymnast or their apparatus (ribbon, ball, rope, hoop and clubs) even slightly crosses the boundary, it will result in point deductions. In my paintings, the otherwise disciplined gymnasts suddenly do not care about the consequences of crossing the boundaries.
Russia used to dominate rhythmic gymnastics, which has been called the world’s most beautiful sport, until the country was banned from international competitions. I use the sport as an allegory of Putin’s regime and its steps toward deepening fascism. In gymnastics competitions, just like in the arenas of political propaganda, complex and difficult issues are presented to audiences as if they were simple and easy. Behind beautiful words and choreographies may lie a harsh and brutal reality.
Annu Kapulainen (MFA, MA) is a Helsinki-based visual artist, who is familiar with crossing the boundaries on the floor having been an artistic gymnast when she was young. She also crossed the boundary between Finland and Russia numerous times when studying painting at the Moscow Academic Art Institute named after Surikov from 1996 to 2003.
Contact information
annu.kapulainen (a) gmail.com
annukapulainen.com
instagram: annukapulainen_art
