The Turku Biennial 2011 is an international exhibition of contemporary art bringing together artists from five different countries. The theme of the exhibition is “Patterns of the Mind”. All together 19 artists from around Europe and Russia are participating in the Turku Biennial. They were chosen by an international group of six curators. On view 9 October 2011, Turku, Finland.
Mauro Vignando, “Untitled,” 2011. Wood, metal, pvc, enamel, electric cable, 304 x 605 x 25,4 cm. Photo (detail) by Alessandro Zambianchi.
The Aboa Vetus & Ars Nova Museum started organizing the Turku Biennial exhibition regularly in 2003. The museum is situated in Turku, Finland, the current European Capital of Culture 2011.
Patterns of the Mind
The theme Patterns of the Mind reaches for thoughts and their winding paths in the human mind. It has inspired artists to deal with thoughts, ideas or reflections, that can be current and contemporary or everlasting and constant; from the mainstream of thoughts or hidden inside an individual. The theme provides keys to critical thought, works that take a stand, to sharp and discerning observations of the surrounding world. On the other hand the theme can be an intimate window to humanity. In many of the artworks the use of words and language are presenting new forms of artistic expression. Several works are also once again bound to the actual exhibition spaces; the architecture and history of the former Rettig palace.
Artists and curators:
Selected by IC-98, Visa Suonpää and Patrik Söderlund, an artist group based in Turku
Daniel Andersson (b. 1976, lives and works in Stockholm)
Thom Vink (b. 1965, lives and works in Turku and the Netherlands)
Essi Kausalainen (b. 1979, lives and works in Helsinki)
Cia Rinne (b. 1973, lives and works in Berlin)
Selected by Magdalena Malm, director of Mobile Art Production in Stockholm
Magnus Bärtås and Hyun-jin Kwak (b. 1962 and 1974, live and work in Stockholm)
Magdalena Dziurlikowska (b. 1975, lives and works in Stockholm)
Kajsa Dahlberg (b. 1973, lives and works in Malmö)
Selected by Elena Kolovskaya, director of the Pro Arte Foundation in St Petersburg
Tatyana Ahmetgalieva (b. 1983, lives and works in St Petersburg)
Elena Gubanova and Ivan Govorkov (b. 1960 and 1949, live and work in St Petersburg)
Alexander Gurko (b. 1976, lives and works in Kassel)
Selected by Martí Manen spanish independent curator based in Stockholm
Ana García-Pineda (b. 1982, lives and works in Barcelona)
(b. 1981, lives and works in Barcelona and Amsterdam)
Job Ramos (b. 1974, lives and works in Barcelona)
Ignacio Uriarte (b. 1972, lives and works in Berlin)
Selected by Milovan Farronato, artistic director of Via Farini in Milan
Giulio Frigo (b. 1984, lives and works in Milan)
Sissi (b. 1977, lives and works in Bologna)
Mauro Vignando (b. 1969, lives and works in Milan)
Publication
All the artists are introduced in the Turku Biennial 2011 publication, which also includes thematic essays written by the curators. The articles in the publication are written by Carl Abrahamsson, Milou Allerholm, Thomas Anderberg, David Armengol, Haizea Barcenilla, Laura Barreca, BBB Johannes Deimling, John Gayer, Vincenzo Latronico, Johanna Lehto-Vahtera, Maria Lind, Kathrin Meyer, Aaron Moulton, Alan Prohm, Giuseppe Signorin, Rebecka Thor, Olesya Turkina, Olaf Val, Elena Kolovskaya, Milovan Farronato, Martí Manen, Magdalena Malm and Patrik Söderlund. Graphic design by Pera Salminen.
Events Programme
The Turku Biennial includes an Events Programme that brings together artists, researchers and art lovers. The programme offers a wide range of perspectives for approaching the Turku Biennial, consisting of public lectures, performances and guided tours with selected guests. On Wednesday September 28th thematic exhibitions are examined in the seminar Does the Theme Matter?
Turku Biennial 2011 prize to Italy
The Milan-based artist Mauro Vignando is the recipient of the Turku Biennial 2011 prize. He was chosen to be the winner by Anu Liivak, the director of Kumu, the Art Museum of Estonia in Tallinn.
www.turkubiennaali.fi
www.aboavetusarsnova.fi/en