Inside Out. Metal plates, bitumen, rust. Weld. 44 cm x 32 cm x 6 cm. 2017.  

The universal representation of books is knowledge; it also represents imagination, truth, beauty, escape and love. The open book is a symbol of learning and knowledge. It represents the learning that we strive to provide for our pupils so that they may continue to learn and develop throughout their lives. In a sense we envisage this to be lifelong learning.

The work reflects the idea of a book, a personal one. It echoes the unknown of the past, the emotion of the read word. The story within made through the material, structure, and the aid of the hand; technique.

Inside, the specific story shown is uncertain, because it came from the past. Black color usage, in the first and last pages are covered with the structural black bitumen, rewrites it presently leaving a personal intimate feeling and mystic in the artwork. Rest of the pages are blank steel plates welded curvy, representing the authors way of writing/ telling the story. Work contains past with truth and lies, past which I have never been in, past I would not be able to experience or prove.   

In psychology black is related to hidden, secretive, and unknown, creates an air of mystery. Keeps things bottled up inside, hidden from the world. Gives protection from external emotional stress. It creates a barrier between itself and the outside world, providing comfort while protecting its emotions and feelings, and hiding its vulnerabilities, insecurities and lack of self-confidence. Black means power and control, hanging on to information and things, rather than giving to others. Black is intimidating, unfriendly and unapproachable, because of the power it exudes. Black is a mystery and intrigue. Self-control and discipline, independence and strong will, authority and power.

On the outside of the sculpture rust were left on purpose. The told story is old and getting even older and unimportant to anyone else. Rust is a commonly used metaphor for slow decay due to neglect, since it gradually converts robust iron and steel metal into a soft crumbling powder. As for the work the rusted part were made on purpose to show the decomposition of the old personal stories.

The sculpture was the part of the solo exhibition called “Revelations” at the gallery “Taidebunkkeri” Imatra, Finland. 2017.