Elina Brotherus

“I seek, do, find – and take pictures. I don’t interfere with the space, but the human presence awakens it.” – Elina Brotherus

Elina Brotherus, Finnish artist working in photography, opens her three-part exhibition compilation, Space – Time – Movement, this October in Jyväskylä, Finland. This unprecedentedly extensive, themed exhibition trilogy presents a new series on Alvar Aalto’s architecture as well as work from periods throughout the artist’s whole career. The Space exhibition at Aalto2 Museum Centre deals with Brotherus’ relationship to architecture. The Time exhibition at the Jyväskylä Art Museum focuses on work from the artist’s long career. And, along with photography, the Movement exhibition at Ratamo Gallery also presents several moving image artworks. Elina Brotherus is one of Finland’s most internationally renowned contemporary photography artists. The three Jyväskylä exhibitions showcase an exceptionally broad example of Brotherus’ work.

Space / Aalto2 / 27 Oct 2023 – 4 Feb 2024
The Aalto2 Museum Centre will premiere a new series by Brotherus. Over the past few years, this series was photographed in several buildings designed by Alvar Aalto: The Aalto House in Helsinki, Muuratsalo Experimental House in Jyväskylä and the Paimio Sanatorium in Paimio.These new works in the Space exhibition deal with a personal experience of the buildings. Layers of time can be sensed in the images; stories and feelings form a relationship between the human figure and the space.  At the same time, the work brings attention to the specific architectural and design language of Alvar Aalto in a more relatable form, in comparison to traditional architectural imagery.

Time / Jyväskylä Art Museum / 27 Oct 2023 – 4 Feb 2024
The retrospective exhibition Time is an extensive regard on Elina Brotherus’ art over the course of her long career as a lens-based artist. Brotherus made an early breakthrough with her autobiographical work and later she engaged in dialogue with art history, landscape and architecture. Recurring elements in her production are the human figure, reflections and careful use of colour. Alongside photography, this exhibition also shows the artist’s time related video work.

Movement / Ratamo Gallery / 27 Oct – 10 Dec 2023
Movement in its many forms is the thread connecting the different artwork shown in the Ratamo Gallery. A red ball, a scarf or even the suspended movement of a dancer, like a human sculpture in various positions, challenge the viewer to react. The exhibition also presents a series of rarely seen, delicate, plant themed cyanotypes.

Challenging oneself, without forgetting humour, is emphasised in Elina Brotherus’ images. The gallery will present Finland’s premiere of a new video filmed with dancer Vera Nevanlinna, one week after the world premiere in Norway.