REVIEW IN HELSINGIN SANOMAT (largest circulation newspaper in Finland)
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Saturday, June 18, 2016
A SUCCESFUL COLLABORATION BETWEEN SISTER SOULS by Harri Mäcklin
In their exhibits, Elina Brotherus and Victoria Schultz pay homage to Allen Ginsberg’s poem HOWL
The Elina Brotherus and Victoria Schultz exhibits at Gallery Heino are a unique combination: the two are entwined to the point that it is difficult to tell where one’s work ends and the other one’s begins. The connection comes not only from the fact that each artist appears in the other one’s work nor because their images are intermingled.
Their main theme joins these two artists who met each other in New York. Both pay homage to HOWL, the major Beat poem by Allen Ginsberg, published 60 years ago. In the same way as the poem, the photographs and videos of Brotherus and Schultz criticize conformity and the capitalist system – even if somewhat timidly.
The touching autobiographical photo series Carpe Fucking Diem (2011-2015) by Brotherus examines feelings related to infertility and gives the finger to society’s expectations. However, only the most tame and unexpressive images from this poignant and skillful photo series are included in the exhibit.
The theme of the outsider, with animals who have escaped from the zoo trying to find a place for themselves in the world of humans, recurs in the staged images by Schultz who was born in Helsinki but has long worked as a documentary film maker in New York.
The collaboration between the artists is at it’s best in a moving photo series – as well as in the three Brotherus videos. Instead of breaking with convention, the two exhibits primarily celebrate an artistic collaboration.
VISUAL ARTS: ELINA BROTHER AND VICTORIA SCHULTZ HOWL until June 19 at Gallery Heino (Uudenmaankatu 16 -20). Tues. – Fri. 11-17, Sat. – Sun. 12 – 16
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