Lea and Pekka Kantonen will fill the art museum with what different people believe is the most important thing in their lives. The artists have assumed a supporting role and given centre stage to the youngsters.

Since the 1980s, the Kantonens have worked with various indigenous and small peoples to convey how young persons see their lives to others within their peoples and also to art audiences. The results of their work will fill Art Museum Meilahti with nine large installations which are journeys to different conceptions of what life is. An important aspect of the exhibition are drawn conceptual maps in which the young persons have described things that are important to them in various ways. Photographs of their favourite locations, installations commenting on school and home, voice recordings, videos and gifts received by the Kantonens from their friends comprise a journey into the thinking of others that appeals to all senses. The rich material on show displays not only differences but also surprising similarities between different peoples.

Many of the works on show are based on years of collaboration with especially Finnish Sámi, the Setu in Estonia and the Rarámuri Indians of Mexico. Some works were recently made at workshops held at the art museum, where young adults who as teenagers had worked with the Kantonens making observations about themselves and the world have revisited the same themes.

The exhibition is part of Lea Kantonen’s artistic doctoral thesis for the University of Art and Design Helsinki and Pekka Kantonen’s doctoral thesis for the Academy of Fine Arts. Lea Kantonen’s thesis, which deals with community art, will be published during the exhibition.

Guided tours: free of charge in Finnish on Wednesdays at 17 and on Sundays at 14 o’clock; in Swedish on the second Sunday of every month at 13 o’clock. To book a private tour at another time, please call tel. +358 9 310 87003.

Lasipalatsin Mediakeskus Oy ©2001 16.2.2005