Eija-Liisa Ahtila
26 Feb - 25 Apr 2010
Eija-Liisa Ahtila
Where Is Where?, 2008
53 min 43 sec
6-channel projected high definition installation with 8-channel sound
Courtesy of Marian Goodman Gallery, New York and Paris, © 2008 Crystal Eye – Kristallisilmä Oy
Where Is Where?, 2008
53 min 43 sec
6-channel projected high definition installation with 8-channel sound
Courtesy of Marian Goodman Gallery, New York and Paris, © 2008 Crystal Eye – Kristallisilmä Oy
EIJA-LIISA AHTILA
26 February – 25 April 2010
Parasol unit is delighted to present a major solo exhibition by the renowned Finnish film and video artist Eija-Liisa Ahtila. It will include three important video installations never before seen in England.
Ahtila is best known for works that concentrates on narratives in human life together with the relationships and primal emotions that underlie them. She describes her films as ‘human dramas’ because they play on the central themes of our existence, such as love, death, sexuality, the difficulty of communication, and individual identity – both its formation and disintegration. Her fictional stories emerge from interviews and extensive research, her own observation and memory. As Ahtila’s films are often shown on multiple screens or within complex installations, her stories unfold simultaneously within time and space, thereby creating a multi-layered experience that engages the viewer both physically and emotionally. Her masterfully crafted narratives, striking portrayal of characters and highly individual mode of expression have captured public interest and won much critical acclaim.
The exhibition will consist of three video installations; Where is Where?, The Hour of Prayer and Fishermen.
Eija-Liisa Ahtila (b. 1959 in Hämeenlinna, Finland), lives and works in Finland.
This exhibition is curated by Ziba Ardalan de Weck and will be accompanied by a publication.
In conjunction with the exhibition, Parasol unit will hold a one-off screening of Ahtila’s film Where is Where? This UK premiere will be held at the Prince Charles Cinema, Leicester Square, on Wednesday 14th April 2010 at 7pm. It will be followed by a discussion between Eija-Liisa Ahtila and Stuart Comer, Curator of Film at TATE Modern. Parasol unit acknowledges the support of FRAME (Finnish Fund for Art Exchange) for this project.
This exhibition is kindly supported by The Finnish Institute, FRAME, and the Finnish Embassy.
26 February – 25 April 2010
Parasol unit is delighted to present a major solo exhibition by the renowned Finnish film and video artist Eija-Liisa Ahtila. It will include three important video installations never before seen in England.
Ahtila is best known for works that concentrates on narratives in human life together with the relationships and primal emotions that underlie them. She describes her films as ‘human dramas’ because they play on the central themes of our existence, such as love, death, sexuality, the difficulty of communication, and individual identity – both its formation and disintegration. Her fictional stories emerge from interviews and extensive research, her own observation and memory. As Ahtila’s films are often shown on multiple screens or within complex installations, her stories unfold simultaneously within time and space, thereby creating a multi-layered experience that engages the viewer both physically and emotionally. Her masterfully crafted narratives, striking portrayal of characters and highly individual mode of expression have captured public interest and won much critical acclaim.
The exhibition will consist of three video installations; Where is Where?, The Hour of Prayer and Fishermen.
Eija-Liisa Ahtila (b. 1959 in Hämeenlinna, Finland), lives and works in Finland.
This exhibition is curated by Ziba Ardalan de Weck and will be accompanied by a publication.
In conjunction with the exhibition, Parasol unit will hold a one-off screening of Ahtila’s film Where is Where? This UK premiere will be held at the Prince Charles Cinema, Leicester Square, on Wednesday 14th April 2010 at 7pm. It will be followed by a discussion between Eija-Liisa Ahtila and Stuart Comer, Curator of Film at TATE Modern. Parasol unit acknowledges the support of FRAME (Finnish Fund for Art Exchange) for this project.
This exhibition is kindly supported by The Finnish Institute, FRAME, and the Finnish Embassy.