29/4/2010
Denise Grunstein
Kiasma, Helsinki
The show exhibits four series of photographs, offering a cross-section of Grunstein's work in the 2000s. She finds the subject matter that is used from her personal experiences, memories, and roots. The lyrical, atmospheric photographs have a strong relationship with art history, romantic painting, and surrealistic photography. The artist works with traditional film and uses an analogue large format view camera. She emphasises stage-like, artificial ambiance in her photographs.
Denise Grünstein’s photographic works in Kiasma
The first extensive Finnish exhibition by Denise Grünstein (b. 1950), one of the best known
Swedish photographic artists, showcases approximately 40 large works of photographic art
and one video installation.
The show exhibits four series of photographs, offering a cross-section of Denise Grünstein’s work in
the 2000s. She finds the subject matter that is used from her personal experiences, memories, and
roots. The lyrical, atmospheric photographs have a strong relationship with art history, romantic
painting, and surrealistic photography. The artist works with traditional film and uses an analogue
large format view camera. She emphasises stage-like, artificial ambiance in her photographs.
The Figure Out series, after which the exhibition is named, emphasises hair, behind which the
characters in the photographs are mysteriously veiled. The series includes Grünstein’s first video
installation All Flesh is Grass. The name refers to the perishing, temporary nature of everything and
is accompanied by movement, and music composed by Morton Feldman.
Grünstein emphasises the significance of the location in the large colour photograph works of the
Figure in Landscape series. The landscape sets the stage for stories with no beginning and no end.
The colours of the glowing green forest surround the staged, dreamlike, even threatening scenes
in the middle ground between the real and the imaginary. In the series Malplacé (2005), there is a
nostalgic dimension, as the artist returns to the places of her childhood near Hanko. The black and
white series Zone V (1998) was born as a result from the artist’s travels throughout Eastern Europe.
The images refer to the artist’s Jewish heritage.
In addition to her artistic work, Denise Grünstein is also known for her commercial photography,
portraits, and other contract work. She has held exhibitions at the Moderna Museet in Stockholm
(2001) and the Hasselblad Center in Gothenburg (2005), as well as several gallery exhibitions
around Europe. Grünstein has made a career as an artist and a photographer in Sweden, but her
roots are in Helsinki, and she spent her childhood summers in and around Hanko. The exhibition
has been compiled with Galleria Charlotte Lund from Stockholm and is open on the fifth floor of
Kiasma until 15 August 2010.
Exhibition catalogue Denise Grünstein, Figure Out (156 p.) is sold in Kiasma’s online store as well
as in the Kiasma Shop. Price: 30 e. The catalogue will become available once the exhibition has
opened. Essay: Bo Nilsson. Graphic design: Greger Ulf Nilsson. Publisher: Arena. ISBN 978-6578-8754-54
Communications Manager Merja Kukkonen, +358 40 1637 352
merja.kukkonen@kiasma.fi
Opening 30 April 2010
Kiasma
Mannerheiminaukio 2, Helsinki
Kiasma is open Tue: 10-17, Wed-Fri: 10-20.30
Sat-Sun: 10-18
Closed on Mondays