Ida Palojärvi
ASTR
Galleria Huuto Jätkäsaari, Jätkä 2
9 – 24 May 2015
A person’s relationship with an object that is being observed as well as interruptions to or prevention of that observation have been the theme of my recent works. Since the Hamza installation I created for the Kuvan Kevät 2012 exhibition, I have tried to limit the viewer’s field of vision either in a temporal or spatial manner and thus challenge the way of viewing which is based on the viewer’s ability to observe an installation from all sides without temporal or other limitations. One of the main techniques in my works is adjusting the amount of light in a space. In my installations, the actual object being observed withdraws into the background making the observation process itself and the viewer’s relationship with the observation more prominent.
The ASTR installation now displayed at Galleria Huuto continues this examination, focusing on the theme of being dazzled – protecting oneself from it and enduring it. Etymologically the name refers to the Greek word ἄστρον which means celestial bodies (the sun, planets, stars and constellations) and from which the word astronomy is derived. The truncated form ASTR refers to the inevitable incompleteness of an encounter. The light formation in my installation tries to catch the viewer’s eye but its glare also forms some kind of surface tension, an obstacle, which is difficult to pass but there is something to see beyond it.
I wish to thank the Arts Promotion Centre Finland, the Taike Arts Council of Uusimaa and the Kone Foundation for supporting my exhibition.
Further information:
Ida Palojärvi
ida.palojarvi (at) gmail.com
+358 40 8388849
