Artefact – a Building Cache, 2021
Installation with object in glazed porcelain, seeds, pulp, insects and fish scale in sample tubes, sand, audio and opening performance.
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In the multi-dimensional Artefact – a Building Cache the artist duo Harrie Liveart, together with archaeologists, have investigated various things, including traces found in a disused dry toilet in Ekenäs Old Town. Human excrement is of great archaeological value and the duo pose questions such as: What type of knowledge was lost with the arrival of the water closet, and what consequences for the future does it have that we daily flush away our excrement with water? The routine surrounding our daily necessities is illustrated in the sculpture in the glass case.
Performativeness and the body as one material among others, along with a research-based mode of expression, are pervasive in Harrie Liveart’s works. The duo call into question the attitude that everything that is not included in history writing or which cannot be explained rationally is unintelligible, meaningless or marginal. They want to understand and draw attention to something that is fundamental and commonplace, but which is often consigned to the shadows by unwritten rules. This process-oriented work is a part of a longer project that the duo are carrying out on water use in our society. After the exhibition period, Harrie Liveart will be leaving traces for future archaeologists – the porcelain sculpture will be buried as a building cache in Ekenäs’ Culture Quarter during the construction of the new museum.
Harrie Liveart are the visual artists Meri Linna and Saija Kassinen. They founded the Harrie Liveart artist duo at the start of their studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in Helsinki, and have been showing together as well as making performances for more than ten years now. In 2019, they showed, among other things, ceramic objects in an installation accompanied by a performance at Kunsthalle Turku. Last year, their performance Arborloo was at Myymälä2, and, in 2015, they took part in Mänttä Art Festival. They have participated in group exhibitions at Kiasma, Kunsthalle Helsinki, The Netherlands and Korea. Harrie Liveart currently have a working grant from Kone Foundation. Meri Linna (b. 1982) is at present a Pro Artibus Snäcksund grant holder. She graduated from the sculpture course at the Academy of Fine Arts in Helsinki in 2014, where she currently teaches. Linna has also been Deputy Director of Studies at the Nordic Art School in Karleby. Saija Kassinen (b. 1983) graduated from the Time and Space Arts subject area at the Academy of Fine Arts in 2016. She has also made video installations.
Collaborators for Artefact – a Building Cache
Archaeologists:
Per Nilsson
Jens Heimdahl
Ilari Aalto
Mia Lempiäinen-Avci
Andreas Koivisto
Sonja Hukantaival
Tanja Ratilainen
Art historian:
Riikka Stewen
Voiceovers in the audio of the installation:
Archaeologists:
Per Nilsson
Jens Heimdahl
Ilari Aalto
Andreas Koivisto
Sonja Hukantaival
Mia Lempiäinen-Avci
Art historian:
Riikka Stewen
Artists:
Meri Linna
Saija Kassinen
Performance text is written by Harrie Liveart and E.L Karhu.
Live performances:
Meri Linna and Saija Kassinen
Pre-recorded part of the performance:
In the video: Mia Lempiäinen-Avci
Voiceover: Lehmus Murtomaa
Thank you:
Herbarium of University of Turku where Mia Lempiäinen-Avci carried out the archaeological research for the piece.
Geberit Production Oy
The artist duo Harrie Liveart is supported by Kone Foundation. #rohkeatekijä
