Johanna Lonka
THE RATBAND
16.8. – 8.9.2019
This exhibition at Galleria Huuto is the third part of the Ratations project and The Ratband’s first gig. The exhibition is a continuation of Johanna Lonka’s series of installations inspired by changing conditions and living organisms.
Rats arouse emotions and many of us have encountered rats. While preparing this exhibition, my zero budget increased my personal identification with a rat-like lifestyle as we humans see it. I rummaged through garbage containers as well as piles of recycled goods and shredded things abandoned by other people when looking for materials for my works. At times I had to compromise my nutrition and I tried to find more resourceful ways of surviving the challenges of change in the increasingly cramped living space, while keeping up with the community. In another situation I would have created other kinds of works. During this process, the figures came close to me and into my dreams.
The close coexistence of rats and humans reminds us of the similarities between these two mammal species. Both species are very adaptable, clever, omnivorous and opportunists. They both learn to persist and make their way through practically any obstacle, using any means. If threatened, they can both attack or generate a mass movement, hierarchical societies and networked communities where the susceptibility to epidemics also develops.
Human activities in society increase the number of rats, which then increases the chasing and poisoning of rats. Poisons spread through other species as well as soil and water.
Scenarios of giant rats in the future have also been presented, but we can only guess who or what will remain on this planet the longest and be successful in terms of adaptation.
Johanna Lonka is a Tampere-based artist who works with sculpture installations, drawing and sound. In her works, she deals with the transformation of living creatures, places or concepts and human activities which transform them. The underlying influences behind her works include the relationship between anthropocentric and ecocentric views of nature as well as publications related to environmental science. Lonka’s work process is characterized by the inspiration provided by the found materials as well as experimentation. One of the earliest series of animal-themed sewn works was Unsuitables from 2004-2005, after which the animals have continued their evolution.
