Time of miracles Leppävirta, 2021   Octagon made of Finnish Spruce, decorated with carvings, paintings and a ceramic mural that are inspired by the Kalevala origin myths and the theories of the big bang and the evolution.   Made by artist Antía Sánchez and sculptor Hannes Aleksi Supported by Kalevalaseura Spanish-Finnish artist cople Antía Sanchez's and Hannes Aleksi's installation "Time of miracles" draws inspiration from the myths of how the world was created in the Kalevala epos. The work challenges the viewer to stop and marvel at the fragility of life. The work is the National Museum's contribution to the Helsinki Design Week program and can be viewed free of charge in the museum's courtyard park from 19 August to 19 September 2021 daily from 7 am to 9 pm.   "The miracle of life does not cease to preoccupy humanity. It is good for a person to stop to wonder every now and then. Bewonderment can lead to respect and respect in turn to the protection of life, which is today perhaps more relevant than ever." - The museum's Kalevala frescoes by Akseli Gallen and the Otherland exhibition's Kalevala-room offer more background about the Kalevala epos and its origins. Photos by Maria Kärkkäinen

“Pesä” Rääkkylä, 2020 Old logs, new logs, larch planks, tar, fire Measures: “Pesa”: 8x8x5 m. Inspired by Kalevala's first poem where world is formed when the seven eggs of Sotka-bird broke falling from top of the knee of ilmatar. “Pesa” consists of a four meters tall pyramid as the nest of Sotka and a fireplace benches formed as a broken egg. “Pesa” consists of a four meters tall pyramid as the nest of Sotka and a fireplace benches formed as a broken egg.   Drone photos by Tommi Sallinen

“Sotka, sorea lintu” N.9x5x3 m Rääkkylä This art piece consisted of two individual sculptures, “Sotka, sorea lintu” Inspired by Kalevala's first poem where world is formed when the seven eggs of Sotka-bird broke falling from top of the knee of ilmatar. “ Sotka sorea lintu” includes a massive birdlike log sculpture finished with fire treatment and almost 3m diameter wooden table and benches made of giant larch planks forming a shape of a broken egg.   Drone photos by Tommi Sallinen

Art piece from HAAN (Hannes Aleksi and Antía Sánchez) Made of: Cedar and Ceramic. Dimensions: 150 x 160 x 60 cm. Year: 2020 The Art piece is based on the first poem of ancient Finnish mythology (Kalevala) that tells about how the world was born: “In the beginning, there was only water and air. The world had not yet been shaped. A bird flew to Ilmatar, the air goddess, and laid seven eggs on her knees. Goddess moved her knees and the eggs rolled into the water and broke. The pieces gave birth to earth, sky, sun, moon, stars and clouds.” The Kalevala is an epic poem compiled from Finnish folklore in the 19th century. The Finnish-Spanish art collective HAAN (Hannes Aleksi and Antía Sánchez) created The “Quelevala” project, an intuitive exploration into the world of the Kalevala, aiming to find a lost understanding of the worldview of our ancestors and their relationship with nature. The sculpture was completed in January 2020 in Spain and is on display at the Fundación Sales botanical garden in Vigo, Spain. http://www.fundacionsales.org/

The log sculpture is called ”Juuri ja Juuri” (”Root and root” – can also be read as ”Just and just”). The piece, consisting of two sculptures, took part in the ”Our Forests”-event (Meidän Metsämme) in Senaatintori on 27.10.18. The sculptures can now be found in the Helsinki University campus area in Viikki (Viikinkaari). In addition to tree roots, one can see some hints to mines and barricades in the sculptures. ”I think both interpretations carry a message that fits our time. The forestry in Finland is úndergoing great change, and climate crisis is forcing Finland to rethink its practices. The good aspect here is, that preventing climate change and log building have shared goals, met in organically managed forests where big trees provide continuous cover. - I believe that by looking deep into the roots of our relationship with forests, we can find answers to the great questions of our time.

The artwork ”Konkelo” ("a wind trap") transforms from a pile of trees torn down by a storm into a twisted log frame.

Hannes Aleksi got the idea for this work from his own forest. Artis and Logbuilder Hannes Aleksi dislikes clearcuttings and manages his own forests by means of continuous-cover silviculture.

”I would like to keep my patch of forest standing, but now that the forest around it has been clearcut, also my trees are being torn down by the storms.”

Seems like our culture as a whole is in a state of ”konkelo” (a wind trap, tangled mess). We have to sacrifice our environment and health to our strive after financial wellbeing, contemplates a traditional log builder, one of our endangered species himself, in Lapinjärvi exposition.

Land Art Lapinjärvi

Land Art Lapinjärvi has invited a group of spanish artists (Cova) and some finnish artists to a workshop of environmental art in Lapinjärvi 21.-28.7.2018. The Exposition breathes with the seasons and will serve as a basis for a new gallery of environmental art.

Location: Lapinjärvi village. Date: Opening 28.7. From then on the exposition breathes with time.

Additional information: https://www.facebook.com/landartlapinjarvi/

#eyeonwoods is A colaborative project with Antia Sanchez that started in 2019.

Our common interest of Nature and finnish culture meets in shape of landart, sculpture, creamic and painting.

#eyeonwoods is a collaborative openProject that aim to mobilize in an artistic way through action reflected in social media. We invite all people to participate with this hastag putting #eyewoods, why? To maximize the sound of a cutted tree, to use its Väki* that elevate the concept of a cutted being, a broken link to life.

* Väki : “Term used in Finnish folk belief to refer to impersonal forces of a supernatural nature seen as inhabiting a wide range of objects and spaces in the natural and cultural environment: forest, wáter, animals, fire,iron tools,etc…” ( From more tan mythology, Catharina Raudvere and Jens Peter Schodt).

The wind blows at the roots of the forest people, the forest spirits terrified ... the ghosts of the trees roam here restless. The bottom is missing, the eye of the earth is screaming, a generation without a future. The shaft of the gap.

Forests, waters and lands are an over-generational heritage. The human eye is looking at the neck of modern man. The disappointment of future generations in the eyes, in the wood pile.

What are you doing?

Massive wooden sculptures made of cutted and re-joined giant spruce roots, white painted and hanged on the air. Part of Scenografia for "National forets strategy 2025" in Ylioppilasteatteri .

Wooden sculptures made of cutted and re-joined giant spruce roots, white painted and hanged on the air. Show at exhibition at Suo Soikoon-festival 2019

A Log sculprure in Mustikkamaa, Helsinki.  Part of Scenografia for "National forets strategy 2025" in Ylioppilasteatteri .