Kävin jo keskiviikkona Chrisin kanssa katsomassa Ateneumissa Tuulikki Pietilän näyttelyn, mutta sunnuntaina menin uudestaan, Museokortin mahdollistamana ja siskon kanssa. Kierreltiin Pietilän työt, edettiin Valo muuttaa kaiken -näyttelyn puolelle, josta bongasin ylläolevan Inari Krohnin Sammal -nimisen työn. En ymmärrä taiteesta mitään, mutta tiedän kyllä, mistä pidän. Sammaleesta pidän luonnossa ja nähtävästi myös kehysten sisällä.
Tuulikki Pietilän kissat olivat hurmaavia, kuten myös Helsingin talviset yöt, Pariisin katot ja muut matkakertomukset, kotoisista saaristotöistä puhumattakaan. Niin monta matkaa, niin monta eri tyyliä ja kokeilua, eikä kyse ollut eri aikakausista. Samalla vuosikymmenellä, joskus samana vuonna, Pietilä oli luonut kaikkea mahdollista maan ja taivaan väliltä. Oli vaikeaa tunnistaa taiteilijaa samaksi, mutta vaihtelu oli minusta ilahduttavaa. Kaipa Pietilä oli kameleontti, kokeilija, edelläkävijä, mennään vähän sieltä, sitten tuolta. Muutos on hyvästä, ei jäädä paikalleen. Pysyvä, liian tarkasti määritelty tyyli voi olla vankila, joka nujertaa luovuuden. Vapaudesta syntyy uutta.
Vastavuoroisesti Valo muuttaa kaiken -näyttelyn puolella ihmettelin Tapani Raittilan töitä nudistirannoista (tai kylpijöistä, kuten taidemaailmassa on tapana sanoa), joita taitelija oli maalannut 1940-luvulta 1990-luvulle asti. En voinut olla pohtimatta, minkä tyyppinen ihminen jaksaa maalata samanlaisia alastomia viisikymmentä vuotta. No, jumittaminenkin on omanlaistaan luovuutta: saman peilaamista eri mielentiloissa, uuden etsimistä turvallisuuden sisällä. Vivahde-erojen etsimistä ja löytämistä, varjopaikkojen tutkailua. Ehkä se on vain luonnekysymys, kokeeko tarvetta luoda nahkojaan ja kuinka usein.
My sister and I went to see Tuulikki Pietilä's art exhibit on Sunday. I had already seen the exhibition on Wednesday with Chris, but I went a second time, since a) I was thoroughly inspired by Pietilä's work, and b) my Museum card gives me unlimited access to Ateneum Art Museum, and my sister asked me to join her.
I loved Pietilä's cats, archipelago landscapes, rooftops of Paris, depictions of winter nights in Helsinki, images from her travels, of which there had been many. Her work spanned decades, and she experimented with a myriad of different styles over the years, sometimes within the same year. I thought it was lovely and refreshing to not be able to recognize the art as hers at all times. What a creative force she must have been! A chameleon, a rule breaker, an experimenter. Change is good, to be always moving! A clearly defined style might be a prison of sorts, while freedom brings creativity.
On the other side of the spectrum was Tapani Raittila, whose work was presented at another exhibition, Light changes everything, at the same museum. Raittila had painted scenes from a nudist beach (or as they'd probably say in the art world: bathers) from the 1940s to the 1990s. What type of person feels the need to paint similar types of naked people for fifty years? And yet, there is creativity in staying the same, too. To explore the same topic from different times and angles, from different moods, finding something new every time, perhaps, just a glimpse, a new shade, a new proportion. I guess it's a question of one's personality: some people feel a strong need to shed their skins and be born anew, periodically, while others create more, always more, from remaining the same. Who the heck knows - like I wrote above, I don't know anything about art.
And here we are, my sister and I, at Ateneum.
You (even if only from the back) and your sister look so beautiful. If I had been to the same museum that day, I'm sure I'd have found you guys main attractions :-)
ReplyDeleteThere are so many types of artists, aren't there, and many find inspiration in completely different places and in various ways. I've always been in awe of the very prolific and very versatile artists, if only because I cannot imagine how they do it.
Thank you Lori, you are too sweet! :)
DeleteI think I typically lean toward artists who have a clearly defined signature style, but Pietilä's art really had me re-considering the way I approach art and artists. It is fascinating to witness what a free mind will come up with!
The contrast you noticed between these artists is very interesting. Of further interest to me was the fact that I searchedgoogle images for each of their names; whilst the Raittila search produced images of his work, the Pietilä search produced mostly images of the artist herself. I have noticed this contrast a number of times before, looking up female as opposed to male artists.
ReplyDeleteLike Lori, I admire both your and your sister's outfits; so lovely!
I think in part the googlesearch results might be explained by the fact that Tuulikki Pietilä isn't always known and/or recognized for her art. She is more often referred to as the life partner of Tove Jansson, the creator of the Moomins, rather than an artist in her own right, which is a shame, because she was superbly talented. I left out the Tove Jansson reference from my blog post on purpose, because it is annoying to me that Pietilä is almost always discussed alongside her spouse. Raittila, on the other hand, is known just for his art, as far as I know. But it is also very possible that there is a male/female contrast there, too. It wouldn't surpise me at all.
DeleteAnd thank you for the outfit compliments! :)