News > Time of Celebration - exhibition full of life by Finnish naivists

Time of Celebration - exhibition full of life by Finnish naivists

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On 20 June at 5 PM, the joint exhibition “Celebration Time” of the Finnish artists Raija Nokkala and Katja Mesikämmen will be opened at Haus Gallery. It is a symbolic way to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Finland, the approaching Midsummer, life in general, and every single moment within it. The colourful and naivistic exhibition is supplemented by the topical installation of the Estonian artist Jüri Mildeberg.

"We prefer paintings which are full of life, joy, happiness, and celebration,“ explains Raija. „The core message of our work is that each of us should try to make the best of it – that even on Mondays it’s possible to celebrate life, even during the worst day the sun will shine to our souls, if we let it to do so." Since 2007 Raija and Katja have had 1-2 exhibitions together every year, it gives them both much more than having an exhibition somewhere just alone: good memories, energy, more ideas and inspirations from each other. Recently they heard about Jüri Mildeberg and felt at once that setting up an exhibition in Estonia altogether would be even more inspiring.

Raija Nokkala’s naive panel paintings evocative of emotion have always been loved and her pictures are found on postcards, calendars and gift boxes, her art has been showcased in exhibitions both domestically as well as in many art galleries all over the world. With her husband, Nokkala has also built the “City of Clouds” in Uusikaupunki, which is Finland’s only naivistic art house that is also their home. A whimsical world opens up behind the blue iron gate of the City of Clouds: the 250 square metre house has been painted and decorated as a treasure chest, leaving something new to be discovered at any moment, where pictures tell the stories of genuine life.

Katja Mesikämmen is a handicraft teacher by profession and has also studied at the Pori art school for three years and held numerous exhibitions in Finland and abroad. Her works are playful and fun-loving moments from the life around us. Sincere and genuine works tell us about the positive side of life, with the ability to see the world through the worriless eyes of a child. Her optimistic perspective brings a smile to the face. Her paintings tell stories with hope and their genre is joyful collective whimsy. The paintings can be set on the background of a city, park, skating ring or even a Venetian market, the atmosphere is busy and lively, but at the same time calm, soft and deep.

Jüri Mildeberg is mostly known as an illustrator and designer who has won many awards. His play with fantasy, items and the connections between them, although simple and straightforward, are always surprising. The common theme in his creative work is “the small things that matter”, as he approaches the grown-up world through a joyful, even childlike prism, and his, to a certain extent, whimsical perspective is never ironic or disparaging, but always warm and sincere. Mildeberg’s works are mainly known in Estonia, but to an extent also in Finland.

The exhibition “Celebration Time” will be open at Haus Gallery until 12 August 2017.

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