Press information - LARU 10

Art Association LARU ART organizes LARU 10, which is an environmental art exhibition event staged by an international group of artists from 29.08.-2.10. 2010 in Helsinki by the Särkiniemi beach. A meeting with the press will be held on Saturday 28.08 at 15:00-17:00 hrs. and opening day events are on Saturday 28.08 at 17:00-21:00 hrs. by Särkiniemi beach. The programme during the opening is: a speech, a performance and the artists will be present to discuss their works with the public.

The artists of the core group are Shachindra Dass, Anastasia Eliseeva, Anu Miettinen, Egle Oddo and Suvi Haapala. Invited artists are: Zhanna Glyadelkina, Steffen Halme, Heli Hietala, Alberto Oviedo Stuart, Raita Virkkunen, Johanna Paalanen, Reetta Sironen, Eeva-Liisa Puhakka, Anna-Lea Kopperi, Kirsi Kuronen, Sirpa Jokinen, Pekka Nevalainen, Sofia Hultin, Ismo Heinonen, Anu Sallinen.

This year the artists will work on the concept "Out Of The House"
The exhibition displays a collective experience of daily lifestyles. Human houses have objects developed and designed for centuries for comfort and utility. These objects however belong inside the house. The OOTH exhibition intends to bring these objects, necessary for daily living, out of the house. Everything that will be presented in this exhibition is something that should in principle be inside the house but the artists translate its usage and necessity to bring it outside.

A printed card is available that serves as a guide to the exhibition and the works of art. There are also signs pointing to the exhibition sites. On the opening day, 28 August 2010, there will be performances and the artists will be present to discuss their works with the public. LARU 10 is the fifth environmental art exhibition and happening held by the group in Lauttasaari.

PROGRAM LARU 10 - Opening ceremony 28.08.2010.
(17:00) LARU 10 - Opening ceremony.
(17:30) Performance by Raita Virkkunen - Mopping the Terrain.
(18:00) Exhibition tour (Map).
(19:00) Performance by Sofia Hultin - The Most Beautiful Feathers.
(20:00) Performance by Anna-Lea Kopperi - Rower - The Last Voyage.

LARU 10- members and artworks >>

BACKGROUND

The LARU ART association was registered formally in the year 2007. LARU is an international environmental art event held annually in Lauttasaari, Helsinki. Lauttasaari was selected as the primary venue for the event because the area combines dense residential habitation with shore areas in recreational use. As part of the surrounding nature, the shores around Helsinki are unique. They have recently been in the spotlight of public debate because of alternative land use plans. Other central themes of the LARU art festival are site-specificity, the proximity of the sea, and using art to produce value added to land areas. One aim of the event is also to develop interaction and cooperation between artists through workshops. Apart from wanting to draw attention to the sea, LARU also wants to highlight the constructed environment in Lauttasaari and to pose questions about the relationship of constructed environment to nature. The first LARU event was organised in 2006. The participants make artworks both for natural settings and for the constructed environment, both in Lauttasaari and elsewhere. LARU wants to bring art into the everyday life of people, along the jogging path or the way to the grocery store. Most of the materials used in the works of art are either recycled or collected from nature.

SPONSORS

Uudenmaan taidetoimikunta, Painokiila, Lauttasaaren Emmaus, K-Rauta Ruoholahti, Antikvariaatti Eeva Kanerva,

Finland

TRANSPORT AND SIGNAGE

Busses 21V, 65A, 66A. Helsinki map page 19 4-5 BC. There are LARU ART signs in the shore area. Look for the signs at the last bus stop on Itämerenkatu and at the end of Särkiniementie road. Information tags are mounted on trees near the artworks. The exhibition is open around the clock.

Enlarge map

More information: artist and producer Egle Oddo tel. 0451110119; e-mail: anu.maarit.miettinen@gmail.com. www.laruart.com