Minna Kangasmaa's exhibition observes change, the material world, the connection to the earth, transience and time – the interconnectedness of everything.
In Progress was inspired by an old work by Minna Kangasmaa from 1994 in the Saarela Sculpture Park in Oulu, where the seven life-size plaster human figures have almost completely disintegrated over time. The artist followed and documented the life cycle of the work, taking photographs and finally collecting the last pieces, which were shaped by nature and covered in moss.
In Progress is constructed from the remains of a decomposed sculpture and photographs, in which the past is present and what once was is still there. Its strong connection with the earth describes something omnipresent, like a metaphysical elemental force that is inherent in and controls living processes. The title of the work refers to the unfinished and ongoing process that continues in the Myötätuuli Gallery. In the long term, changes occur in the material of the work, but also in the way Kangasmaa adds to, reuses or otherwise modifies the work. By focusing on the material and its life cycle, the artist calls for a relationship with a sustainable future.
The exhibition has been curated by regional art researchers Tuija Visuri and Hanna-Leena Ruottinen. The exhibition is produced by the Oulu Art Museum, the regional art museum and part of the Oulu Museum and Science Centre. In Progress is a satellite exhibition to Listen to the Dust exhibition, which will be on display at the Oulu Art Museum from 26 June to 27 October 2024. The artist's work has also been supported by the Finnish Cultural Foundation.