ART CENTER AHJO, HEHKU -SPACE AND KYTÖ/LIEKKI -SPACE

ANU TORIKKA, FROM GRASSINA
12.9. -29.9.2024, HEHKU -SPACE JA KYTÖ/LIEKKI -SPACE

"To travel, collect, assemble - and create works"
In my case, concrete experiences and observations slowly turn into works, that's why I have had to be in a place many times or for a long time in order for it to become material for my works.
Traveling has also meant studying in Budapest, work and hiking in Finnish Lapland, tent camps in Ääninen's petroglyph areas and many times working in Grassina's studio house in Italy near Florence. Walking through Florence's alleys and squares, museums and churches. In the absorption of Renaissance and Middle Ages and art, in the midst of colors, in very impressive spaces. Away from home circles. Taidekeskus Ahjo's exhibition features artist's books created during periods spent in Grassina, watercolors and a video from a route I very often walk around Grassina.

Anu Torikka, born 1948, is a printmaker living and working in Joensuu. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts of Finland (now the Academy of Fine Arts) 1967-68, the Academy of Fine Arts (now Aalto University) 1968-72, from which he graduated as a visual arts teacher in 1972, and the Hungarian Academy of Fine Arts in Budapest 1976-77.
He has worked as a full-time visual artist since 1978, held numerous solo exhibitions and participated in group and joint exhibitions at home and abroad, for example in Italy, Germany, Estonia, the Republic of Karelia and the Czech Republic. He has received the prize of the North Karelia Art Commission in 2008 and the Jalava prize in 1994. He has been granted an additional state artist's pension in 2009.