Labour-free Culture 23.11.-13.12. | Poriginal Gallery

Artistic work entails potential to make visible alternative relationships to working. Nonetheless at the same time it is good to acknowledge the self-exploitation, structural unemployment, and unorganised nature of the way of working and the fact that artists are also often driven to somewhat forced position as self-employed entrepreneur.

This exhibition deals with the concept of liberation from work, especially related to artistic activity and its possibility to reconfigure what work is. Presented in this exhibition will be works by Ronja Siitonen combining photographs and text and with a diary style note taking. The starting point for the work has been 5-month period of unemployment. Jaakko Pallasvuo’s works in the exhibition verge on the line between artifact and artwork. Also present in the exhibition will be elements from the project Eurooppa kieltäytyy työstä [Europe renounces from work] that consists of a documentary film by Ilona Raivio, photographs by Henri Salonen, and essays by Klaus Maunuksela and Pontus Purokuru. The publication of the project in Finnish published by Khaos will be available in the exhibition and consists of interviews made by Lasse Poser, Ilona Raivio and Henri Salonen. The publication is also available to be purchased adjacent to the exhibition.

Part of the exhibition will be present in the premises of the association of Pori area’s unemployed [Porin Seudun Työttömät ry] at the address Mikonkatu 21 in Pori. The association has been established in 1992 and works actively to reduce unemployment as well as supports the livelihood and activity of the unemployed. The association organises courses and recreational activity to its members as well as runs a food bank and offers services such as dress rental, drift store, dressmakers’ shop, weaver’s shop and in autumn – a fresh fruit juice press. The exhibition will be presented mainly in the drift store that is open from 10-15 on weekdays.

There will be a finissage event at the gallery on Friday 13th of December. You are warmly welcome!

Curator Miina Hujala, Pori Art Museum