Artists from the Free Art School present in Stockholm – multidisciplinary exhibition explores the relationship between humans and the plant world

The exhibition is curated by painter Kim Somervuori and features works by Inkeri Halme, Benjamin Kassinen, Noora Kaunisto, Matilda Keränen, Anna Kurki, Sisko Pajari, Tommi Pasanen, Sasha Rotts, Eeva-Marja Saarinen, and Kati Sankala.

The group turns its focus toward flora: the exhibition as a whole resembles the plant kingdom, with its different species, offshoots, and stages of growth.
“Plants provide us with nourishment, shelter, clothing, and building materials. They form the conditions of life for most other organisms—fungi, insects, birds, animals, and humans—as environments for growth, as meals, as nesting places, and as frameworks of existence. Plants generate the oxygen we breathe and shape the beauty of our planet in the form of trees and shrubs, ground cover, mosses, vines, succulents, cacti, fibrous crops, edible plants and poisonous ones, Christmas trees and mistletoe branches.”

The relationship with nature is a globally urgent theme as societies live under the threat of climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental crises.
Kim Somervuori, who curated the exhibition, reflects:
“The theme itself is somewhat worn out—even boring. It’s incredible how it remains relevant decade after decade. It would be nice to move on, if only humans would stop treating the Earth as their trash can—something Leevi & the Leavings already sang about in the 1990s.”
“Still, young artists’ perspectives are always the most current and the freshest. This group has approached the theme in many new ways,” Somervuori adds.
The exhibition includes mostly paintings, but also installations, sculptures, and performance art.
“Working with artists at the beginning of their careers is always exciting and rewarding.”

Painter and principal of the Free Art School Elina Merenmies is pleased that the exhibition is finally happening after a long period of uncertainty.
“Nordic collaboration is important for the Free Art School. We are delighted to relaunch international activity after the pandemic by bringing this exhibition by young artists to Sweden—in a truly fascinating venue in Stockholm.”
“Along the way, the exhibition has evolved. After several years of working separately, the artists’ practices may have changed significantly—they are very different from one another—but they are united by four years of intensive, painting-focused study as one class,” says Merenmies.

Half Plants – Half Humans is open from Thursday to Sunday, 7–28 November 2021, from 12:00 to 18:00.

Opening event on Saturday, 6 November, from 14:00 to 18:00. Welcome!

Kummelholmen
120 Vårholmsbackarna
12744 Skärholmen, Stockholm
Free entry.

Further information and image requests:
Meri Karppanen, Administrative Director, Free Art School
meri.karppanen@vapaataidekoulu.fi, tel. +358 40 9010 320

The exhibition is supported by the Louise and Göran Ehrnrooth Foundation, the Finnish-Swedish Cultural Foundation, Moomin Characters, Helsinki Capital Partners, and Novia University of Applied Sciences.