Johanna Raekallio: Perintö / Pauliina Korpi: Vieras huone

21.6.-19.7.2026

Hirvitalo - Pispala Contemporary Art Centre

Johanna Raekallio: Heritage (downstairs)

My mother stopped speaking as her illness progressed. She spent her time crafting an extensive amount of crochet works during about three years. The expression of the pieces changed over time. At first, the works resembled everyday objects, such as scarves and headgear but they were a bit odd and out of form. As the executive functions became more challenging, the crafts became even more special - even artistic. As the skills faded, we offered mom colorful threads to keep her going. Month after month, the crafts became more simplified, until she only produced plain chain stitches.

Johanna Raekallio's artistic work includes installations and site-specific works made of recycled and ready-made materials, as well as moving image. She has created works for art institutions as well as urban and nature environments. Her most recent works have been community art and participatory projects. Raekallio was active in visual arts both individually and in working groups from 2009 to 2019. After a hiatus working in social advocacy and youth work, she returns to her praxis with a focus on building bridges and fostering empathy through art.

Pauliina Korpi: Strange Room (upstairs)

In my hometown, I am often overcome by an inexplicable feeling of alienation rather than nostalgia. Very rarely have I felt like I belonged to any place or group, maybe that is why it felt easier to live in a place where almost all the people around me have come from somewhere else.

Some of my favourite places are unbuilt waste lands. In the same way, some vague shapelessness feels like the most genuine part of my personality. Through the theme of the exhibition, I want to explore how different materials find their way into my works and what kind of stories they begin to tell. As well as rootlessness and quest for belonging that still exist both in our time and nature.

Pauliina Korpi is a Helsinki-based visual artist who mainly uses textiles in her work. In her art, she often combines recycled and self-dyed fabrics with various found materials, using sewing, embroidery and traditional weaving techniques. The works usually take their final form as a result of experiments and are often inspired by the space in use and its surroundings. She has also collaborated with other artists, been active in art communities and collectives and has participated in organising art workshops and exhibitions.