Exhibitions at Culture House Laikku challenge viewers to reflect on peace and their roots
Jana Výborná-Turunen's Manifesto 25 - Textile and Costume Sculptures for Peace, opening at Laikku's Gallery, explores the theme of peace as a protest against the militarisation of the world. The exhibition consists of two parts: the older Manifesto 03 collection and new works that respond to current conflicts, such as the situations in Gaza and Ukraine. The works are symbolic costume and textile sculptures that use meaningful materials: the exhibition includes an image with the names of civilians murdered in Gaza, projected on a carpet of a Jewish family killed in a concentration camp.
The works in the exhibition are visual expeditions into the past, the present and the future. The artist mirrors his own personal experiences, thoughts and feelings to current social phenomena and works on issues related to morality, responsibility, truth and social influence. Storytelling and meaningful materials and techniques play a special role, bringing symbolic meanings to visual narrative in new contexts.
Jana Výborná-Turunen is a Czech-born artist living and working in Tampere. He holds a Master of Arts degree from Prague University and a Master of Arts degree from the Department of Costume Design at the University of Art and Design Helsinki. Výborná-Turunen has worked in costume and textile art for over 20 years. Her work has been shown in solo and group exhibitions in Finland and abroad. She also works as a lecturer in new art contexts at Häme University of Applied Sciences.
Marje Viitala's exhibition Alkujuurilla ("At the Roots"), opening in the Laikku's Studio, combines fairytale, mysticism and the collective unconscious. The works feature a dreamlike, symbolic narrative in which bears and birds move through thoughtless landscapes. Viitala uses traditional printmaking techniques such as etching and woodcut, as well as linocut, exploring the dialogue between light and shadow. The work is based on intuition and free expression of the subconscious.
"In my metalligraphy, one of the main themes is light in darkness. Light can be either concrete or spiritual. I draw the etchings directly on the board without sketching: I create the works with the idea of flow, giving the image space to breathe and let the thoughts take over. It is important that the subconscious speaks freely. I work on the finished subject in a monotypical way, looking for points of light, for toons. The work lives through each stage to its final form," says Viitala.
Marje Viitala is a third generation visual artist and graphic designer. She was born in Sastamala, Finland, and currently works and lives in Tampere, Finland. She received her art education at Kankaanpää Art School in the graphics department. He has participated in exhibitions in Finland and abroad, for example in Portugal, Bulgaria and Japan. Viitala's works are in the collections of the Tampere Art Museum, the City of Sastamala and the City of Nokia, among others.
Viitala's exhibition is supported by the Arts Promotion Centre of Finland. The exhibition is also supported by the Finnish Heritage Agency.
In the Laikku Gallery Jana Výborná-Turunen: Manifesto 25 - textile and costume sculptures for peace
In the Laikku Studio Marje Viitala: At the roots
The exhibitions are on display from 9.8.–14.9.2025.
Free admission to the exhibitions.
Culture House Laikku
Keskustori 4, Tampere
Opening hours
Tue-Fri 9–20
Sat-Sun 10–18
