TERVEET SIELUT | MENS SANA

SUURIKOKOINEN PAPERI-INSTALLAATIO PURKUTALOTAIDENÄYTTELYYN | A MONUMENTAL PAPER INSTALLATION FOR A DEMOLITION HOUSE EXHIBITION

The artwork was created for an art exhibition held in a building scheduled for demolition (Mediart by Re:Formi), with the theme of health, inspired by the building’s history as a health center. I was given a small lobby space with four opposing windows, which led my thoughts to swimming lanes. I wanted to take advantage of the upper windows in the lobby to backlight paper. My goal was to explore the three-dimensional shadow qualities of paper—how a cut-out human figure would only partially appear through a painted paper swimming pool. I had long wanted to experiment with paper on a large scale, hoping to demonstrate its potential as a material for public art. In paper-based works, placing the piece out of reach is essential, which led me to install the artwork on the ceiling—or rather, just below it—high enough to prevent physical contact. This also gave the swimmers and swimming lanes an ethereal nuance. I was reminded of the old Roman saying: “Mens sana in corpore sano”.