Today at the State Tretyakov Gallery opens exhibition of leading contemporary sculptor Finland Kari Huhtamo

Today, September 3, at 14.00 in the State Tretyakov Gallery ( «Exhibition Hall in Tolmachi», Small Tolmachovsky lane 6) Opening of the exhibition «Kari Huhtamo: Metamorphosis of the Arctic. Sculpture ».

Kari Huhtamo - leading Finnish sculptor, widely known throughout Scandinavia. That's him in 1970-80-ies had the role of the reformer monumental sculpture of Finland. Style of this artist is easily recognizable: he uses a commercial stainless steel, while inspiring their original works of plastic connecting abstract and geometric and organic, biomorphic forms.

Kari Huhtamo (b. 1943) - a native of Lapland, a graduate of the Art Academy of Finland, and now a full member, winner of many awards of the country - has a strong place in the forefront of the art in Scandinavia. His sculptures are represented in all important art museums in Finland. In the period of the master in his works influenced by works of C. Brancusi, abstraktsionistskih searches G. Moore along with the experience of H. Arp and Max Ernst. In the mature works Huhtamo features plastics Russian Constructivism and Western modernism ( V. Tatlin , N. Gabo , Alexander Calder) enriched the ideas that changed the world sculpture of recent decades.

favorite genre sculptor - the mobiles (mobile design), often located in the interior of public buildings. Since mid-1970 he worked with large volumes, creating a monumental compositions on architectural facades, city streets and in the open air. Complex configuration of metal structures made in an abstract manner, Huhtamo can organically linked with the landscape.

artist widely used in sculpture, color and texture, shading surfaces are often polished to a mirror finish, bright «enamel» colors. Making the cut in openwork steel sheets, turning the form in the space around the axis of songs like flower petals or crown of the tree, the author subtly plays with the effects of light and air. Rays of light, shadows and highlights if dematerialized large masses of metal used for making the sculptures.

a landmark work of the master is a 15-meter «Monument to the revival of Lapland in 1945-55» in the town of Rovaniemi (1977). Many works, including those exhibited in Moscow, devoted to the theme of a northern country ( «Mirror Lake», 1990-1999; «A wide range of the setting sun», 1999; «Cantus Arktis», 2003; «Seagull», 2009; all - Stainless Steel ).

In recent years, the performance of a circular plastic and reliefs Kari Huhtamo working closely with both architects and the engineers, experts in the field of computer and laser technology. Master is engaged not only the easel and monumental plasticity, but also painting, silkscreen, lithography, based on traditional Finnish technology creates carpets and tapestries.

To display at the Tretyakov Gallery selected 40 sculptures by Kari Huhtamo, which are supplemented with 20 sheets of drawings and printed graphics ( «Spring dance», 1974, lithograph; «Self Portrait», 1975, ink, pen; « Darkness », 2008, lithograph). Unlike traditional monographic shows, bounded closed space, the exhibition has an open structure. It will unfold simultaneously at three sites, occupying the space of varying size, including the exterior: the Crimean Val will be installed fame to the artist's mobilization, including hanging, in the courtyard of the Main Building Gallery in Lavrushinsky - a number of monumental compositions. In the hall in Tolmachi mobilization and chamber sculpture will complement the collection of graphic works that will make creative portrait sculptor more voluminous and the museum's tradition to introduce the viewer in the creative laboratory of the author.

The exhibition is open to the public from 4 September to 4 October at the sites: «Exhibition Hall in Tolmachi», State Tretyakov Gallery in Krymsky Val, Lavroushinsky, 10 (yard in front of the main building).

Source : Press release of the State Tretyakov Gallery