Linda Arola
PEARLS BEFORE SWINE
Galleria Huuto Jätkäsaari 2
24.1.–10.2.2013
My name is Linda Arola and I will be holding an exhibition at Galleria Huuto’s new premises in Jätkäsaari. The exhibition is called Pearls before swine. The name has become important to me over many reasons. I have often wondered why artists want to be present in all kinds of places, go through a cumbersome application process and pay for all that, only to find that the works don’t reach the right audience or that the audience doesn’t understand the message or value the experience. Art is not always of high quality and sometimes it’s too valuable for the audience. I haven’t held a solo exhibition in Helsinki for over six years. It is partly because I haven’t felt the need to do so and partly because I have started a family during this period of time. I have also gone through a major change in my life. Therefore, I’ve become interested in questions related to art, audiences and gallery owners. Will anyone find my paintings?
Once again my paintings deal with children and family life as I also wonder if the so-called “well-off” families realize what a valuable experience it is to get to see your children grow up. Does this make us ungrateful pigs? Do we have to chase after an increasingly higher standard of living, thus sacrificing our role as a parent? Should we let the day care staff know our kids better than we know them ourselves? I am, of course, speaking from a stay-at-home mom’s point of view. Luckily I am able to work at home, for example at night or when the kids go out with their father. The name of the exhibition also includes as a slightly cutting remark, but it’s only understood by those concerned.
I wanted to depict the iconic joyful family moments, but as the process went on I couldn’t avoid the dark side. My aim is to build an extensive exhibition, leaving as few empty spots on the walls as possible. The paintings will be mainly acrylic paintings on canvas, except for one large watercolor painting. The themes include funerals, weddings, babies being born and other celebrations. In some paintings I also use well-known and less known fragments of art history. My works are always based on a photo of my family or friends. I use a freehand method without any aids, such as overhead projectors or taking measurements. This working method gives me great satisfaction. I work in short cycles, in an eruption-like manner. I want to paint pictures that I believe are currently missing from the art scene and that I myself would like to see.
Linda Arola (b. 1979, Hammerfest)
Adolf Lindforsin tie 9 A 22
00400 Helsinki
Tel. +358 40 966 0541
Galleria Huuto Jätkäsaari
Makasiini L3
Tyynenmerenkatu 6 (ent. Hietasaarenkuja 6), Helsinki
Tram nr 9 to stop ”Bunkkeri”, walk back towards the city ca 100 m, magasin L3 is a very big brick red buildng on you right side, you can´t miss it.
