Jana Výborná-Turunen: Manifesto 25 – textile and costume sculptures for peace

The theme of the Manifesto 25 exhibition is highly current and the artist's message is essential. The works were created in response to the state of the world, which is once again becoming heavily armed and militarized. The discourse on peace is marginalized and unwelcome in mainstream social debate.

In the first part of the exhibition, the artist re-presents Manifesto 03, a work created over 20 years ago in response to the state of the world at that time. It is a visual protest against violence, weapons, wars, injustices, occupations, and colonialism, presented through artistic means. In Manifesto 03, which has been widely exhibited in the past, the artist used, among other things, his father's cotton military uniforms, which he processed into paper pulp and used to sew anti-militarist costume sculptures, a kind of straitjacket.

The new, recently completed part of the exhibition includes works that have been created in response to the current world, which is dominated by militarization. Genocide is taking place in Gaza, and people are experiencing indescribable suffering in Ukraine. The call for peace is marginalised and unwelcome in mainstream social discourse.

A new addition to the exhibition Manifesto 25 is a picture containing the names of civilians murdered in Gaza, projected onto a rug belonging to a Jewish family killed in a concentration camp.

Each work in the exhibition has a story. The artist wants to awaken the viewer, in his own words:

" . . we share this world, and at its worst, the silence of bystanders can kill hundreds of thousands of innocent people. "

The works in the exhibition are thus visual journeys into the past, present, and future. The artist reflects her own personal experiences, thoughts, and feelings on current social phenomena and explores issues related to morality, responsibility, truth, and social influence. Narrativity and meaningful materials and techniques play a special role, bringing symbolic meanings to visual storytelling in new contexts.

Jana Vyborna-Turunen is a Czech-born artist who lives and works in Tampere. She holds a Master of Arts degree from the University of Prague and a Master of Arts degree from the Department of Costume Design at the University of Art and Design Helsinki. She has worked in costume and textile art for over 20 years. Through her company Manifesto, she also designs unique clothing. Her works have been exhibited in both solo and group exhibitions in Finland and abroad. She is a member of Ornamo, Ars-Häme ry, and the Tampere Artists' Association. She currently works in new art contexts as a lecturer at Häme University of Applied Sciences.

Exhibition at Culture House Laikku's Galleria, Keskustori 4, Tampere.

Open Tue–Fri 9 AM–8 PM, Sat–Sun 10 AM–6 PM. Free admission.