Helsinki-based artist Pia Männikkö’s installations focus on the body, space, and the interaction between the two. Männikkö is interested in how we observe our surroundings, fascinated by different natural and physical phenomena and varying spatial scales that open doors to perception.

Considering the viewer’s presence and the work, Männikkö creates a second layer in the space with plain but powerful elements. Instead of using solid materials, she turns to permeable, organic surfaces and flexible forms that grow and change. The ‘Déjà Vu’ installation exemplifies the potential discovered in ordinary, plain objects. In the ‘Humans’ installation, hand-painted ink silhouettes on transparent tulle form a crowd. These life-size bodies turn into shadows, merging with the viewer’s experience and creating a dynamic interaction between the artwork and its audience.

Since 2013, ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ has been displayed in various architectural settings, including a historic villa, a synagogue, and a biennial venue. In this moving metaphorical creation, a large sheet fills the space, evoking the seashore with a golden sunset glistening on the waves and the sound of a warm breeze.

Pia Männikkö

Deja Vu: 28 September – 13 October 2024

Midsummer Night’s Dream: 30 September – 13 October 2024

Yeldeğirmeni Sanat