Artist Residency
With Collective Undergagen.
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Summer 2024
Art installation shines a spotlight on women’s mental health issues.
With the support of Nordic Culture Point, who granted us a stipend, which helps artist over the Nordic regions create room for collaboration and dialogue.
A series of installations both on the streets as well as in a gallery setting.
“Disturbing Domestic Peace was a unique exhibition, something like we haven’t had before. Creating a space inside of the gallery space fitted perfectly to the theme, as well as the cabins outside. Artists’ work are in many ways unique and we were happy to show them to the Finnish audience too. And the artworks left on the streets will enrich Pasila district for a long time after the exhibition.”
Jaakko Blomberg – Curator Helsinki Urban Arts
Art installation shines a spotlight on women’s mental health issues
We are not your average group of artists, and strive to put together works that don´t conform to your usual gallery set up. The installations focused on highlighting women’s mental health issues, particularly how external factors like constant news of war and conflict can disrupt mental health. In challenging times, art plays a vital role in helping people connect, heal, and grow. Art initiatives can be transformative for a community, especially when that community collaborates.
Three key factors were important. First, the artworks themselves—physical spaces where people could step inside and reflect. Unlike flat paintings, the houses were intimate, personal, and vulnerable, inviting visitors into a world of (un)strength, (un)power, and (un)balance.
Second, we extended the project beyond the gallery, building three small houses outdoors, offering a female perspective in urban art spaces, through impermanent art objects.
Third, the participation of locals was crucial, strengthening our bond with the community and making the project more engaging for a broader audience.
Prior to starting the residency we as a group of artist created individual pieces of artwork, working with our individual strengths. We all have our distinctive style and choice of mediums.
Miss Printed came with her iconic collages. Using her blend of vintage imagery – of the the perfect women, contrasting with painted images of conflict and war.
She also brought a book of collages, cleverly conveying what is happiness? Inviting guests to sit down and take some time to look at the works in more detail.
Hello the Mushroom & Dish both use found objects which they re-purpose and create into something new. Whilst still reflecting on it original purpose and history. Both came with a selection of ceramic wears, tho both their styles are very different, together they somehow complement and come together very nicely. For this project we also used textile, with hand sewn details. A personal favourite for me was Hello the Mushrooms Rollerskates. Gold plated with hand painted details – a metaphor for the highs and low of our roller-coasting emotions.
Dish and Hello the Mushroom were also given the task of creating a wall paper design each. We chose a colour-pallet for us to use. Reflecting on our own personal journeys. Dish used her current health situation. Having had a hysterectomy earlier in year, it seemed like a good subject to explore. Women’s health & gynaecology, its lack of knowledge and medical treatment and also the surge of emotions that is so prevalent over the course of womens lives and how closely connected this is. In contrast Hello the Mushroom´s wallpaper, when you look closely you will see it speaks about all the happy pills we are given to treat our symptoms both physically and mentally.
The wall paper was printed in the Netherlands using the Riso print method. This enabled us to print in high pigmented colours and resulting in colours that can not be achieved otherwise. This helped give that feeling of disturbance. Both wallpapers are used in both the in gallery and street installations.
K.b.r also took this opportunity to reflect on her own health and current life situation. Arriving to the residency 8 months pregnant. soon to become a first time mother. She used a series of photographs and Polaroid’s to document her journey. She also made a plant made of paper. A Clover plant, if you spent some time you can find one four leaf clover. A commentary on the luck of the draw. This could be the luck of which country your born in and which laws govern your body. What health support your entitled to… or not. The privilege we have of living in the nordic regions that have a health system that everyone has access to.
Additional artwork that we created before arriving, included a lamp, created and illustrated by Dish. Individually we also repurposed a selection of 7inch vinyal covers.
Once we arrived to Pasila – where Helsinki Urban Arts is located we started to assemble our installations. Incredibly lucky to have artisans from Helsinki to help us create our vision into reality. We then set about sourcing items locally for our installation. Helsinki Urban Arts partners – ´Vapaakaupunki´ loaned us some furniture, whilst we also found some items in a second hand shop. A happy place for all artist in our collective.
Taking the artwork to the streets
Safe Spaces
The last leg of our residency was placing versions of our installation on the streets of Pasila – Helsinki´s centre of street art. As street artist we pride ourselves on pushing the boundaries of what street art can be. Making these houses was something completely new to us all.
Variations
Whilst these houses are similar to the house inside the gallery, there where some subtle differences. We used the both wallpaper designs and Miss Printed created a mobile that could be seen from outside the house. Each house also had a small number of artworks placed inside.
Placement
The houses where placed in 3 different locations within the Pasila area. Each location gave a different feeling and narrative. We wanted to create a feeling of a safe space, that evoked childlike curiosity.
Disappearance
Unfortunately our residency was not long enough for us to observe how these houses held up. However we occasionally received feedback and photos from friends. The houses started to slowly deteriorate and some signs of damage was seen. The artwork inside overtime disappears and is taken. The houses where removed 1 month later.
“Vapaakaupunki, or “Free City,” is an open community and event space. Before this special cabin the staff didn’t have a private office space. The cabin was very needed and we are very grateful to have it here. It has increased the well being of our staff by providing a cozy space for working and it has brought more value to the space in general by its playful character. The cabin was placed next to a mural wall, and it really feels like it was always meant to be there – there is a sun shining above the house. This was very special.”
Roosa Lehikoinen, Producer & Curator
London Paste up festival
The last leg of this project, takes place in Brick Lane – London.
Once home to both Dish and Hello the Mushroom.
London Paste up festival is an annual event that takes place every September. Artist are invited to send artwork that is then pasted up in the streets surrounding streets of Brick Lane, famous for its street art. Unable to recreate another installation, we presented the building in the form of paste ups (a grass root street art intervention) of the houses.
Its been great to re-connect with the group and further bond our working relationship with them.
Thank you to our sponsors and friends in Helsinki, Kitos!!
Nordic Culture Point for the stipend and financial support.
Dirty Collective for hosting us, lending us your artisans, time and financial support.
Helsinki Urban Arts for inviting us to take over your gallery space.
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