Press information - LARU 11

Art Association LARU ART organizes LARU 11 BREAK, which is an environmental art exhibition event staged by an international group of artists from 3.9.-2.10. 2011 in Helsinki by the Särkiniemi beach. An opening day events are on Saturday 3.9.2011 at 16.00 - 20.00 hrs by Särkiniemi beach. A meeting with the press will be held on Tuesday 6.9.2011 at 11.00 - 13.00 hrs. The programme during the opening is: a speech, performances and the tours with artists presenting their works to the public. Heli Hietala, Sofia Hultin, Raita Virkkunen and Willem Wilhelmus will do performances during the tour.

The artists of the core group are Anu Miettinen, Egle Oddo, Suvi Haapala and Ismo Heinonen. Invited artists are: Minna Alaluusua, Shachindra Dass, Zhanna Glyadelkina, David Graham, Steffen Halme, Heli Hietala, Sofia Hultin, Sirpa Jokinen & Pekka Nevalainen, Anna-Lea Kopperi, Ria Piritta Mette, Eeva Meltio, Eeva-Liisa Puhakka, Anu Sallinen, Reetta Sironen, Hans-Peter Schütt, Alberto Oviedo Stuart ja Raita Virkkunen ja Willem Wilhelmus.

This year the artists have been working on the concept of "BREAK". Exhibition theme “BREAK” is a word that can be applied and interpreted in many interesting ways for example “Coffee Break” or “Break the Silence”. Although the participating artists speak a variety of languages e.g. Finnish, Swedish, Russian, Estonian, Italian, Spanish, German, French etc. the theme “BREAK” was chosen as common communication language is English. Communication medium is not only a language but also gestures and tone of voice therefore major part of art works without any language, and easily communicates even within differences in languages. This is the sixth environmental art exhibition organized by the artist group.

A printed card is available that serves as a guide to the exhibition and the works of art. There can be also found standing signs pointing to the exhibition sites.

PROGRAM LARU 11 - Opening ceremony 3.9.2010 at 16.00-20.00.

Exhibition opening will feature performance art and guided tour of the exhibition.

Heli Hietala, Sofia Hultin, Raita Virkkunen and Willem Wilhelmus will have performances during the tour.

LARU 11 – Guided tour of the exhibition on Sunday 18.09.2011 and 2.10.2011 at 15.00.
The tour will start from Särkiniemi´s sandy beach.

LARU 11- 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

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 Anu Miettinen e-mail: anu.maarit.miettinen@gmail.com tel. 041-5116864 www.laruart.com