Little Bits of Paradise
Welcome to the opening ceremonies on Wednesday 8.1.2025 at 17-19.
At the core of my work are reflections on humanity and the imperfection of life. The saying apple doesnʼt fall far from the tree has inspired my apple-themed sculptures over the past few years. The apple acts as a metaphor for inherited or imagined human characteristics. In part, the themes of my works also stem from my love for gardening — the garden I envision as a blooming paradise, though the reality is often much harsher. Everything seems to come either all at once or not at all. The garden is sweat and weeds, pests or spoiled harvests, yet the imagined garden — the paradise — always inspires me to try again. There are two gardens. In the words of author Michael Pollan, the first is the garden of books and memories, that dreamed-of outdoor utopia, gnat-free and ever in bloom, where nature answers to our wishes and we imagine feeling perfectly at home. The second garden is an actual place.
Often, my works are rooted in everyday experiences and emotions. They are like diary entries, notes about thoughts I cannot put into words. When I start, I often donʼt know — nor do I want to know — what the final piece will become. I let the work take shape intuitively, guided by the material and my feelings.
The primary material in my work is ceramics, as it allows for an instinctive process where form and surface can be endlessly reshaped. I am also drawn to the element of unpredictability in ceramic materials, something that cannot be avoided even with knowledge and experience. Opening the kiln is always an exciting moment, as so many factors influence the final result. Predictable outcomes could only be achieved by consistently using the same raw materials, techniques, and firing temperatures. Ceramics has taught me to tolerate uncertainty and imperfection. I deliberately aim to create surprises by varying materials and layering multiple glazes, resulting in outcomes that can only be guessed at but never fully controlled. The materials themselves seal the fate of the piece.
The slow process of working with ceramics forces me to pause and focus on the task at hand. It helps to cope with the rush and challenges of everyday life. In the end, ceramics and gardening are remarkably similar in nature. One imagines being able to control and shape them, but only by listening to the material and working together with it can one, at least occasionally, achieve their goals.
Katri-Maria Huhtakallio (born 1983, Helsinki) is a Finnish artist working mainly with ceramic sculpture. Her figurative sculptures are based on daily life perceptions, humanity and emotions. She defines her body of work as a diary, notes without words. Her artwork can be found in public collections of the Finnish State Art Commission, Craft Museum of Finland and Arctic Ceramic Center Museum.
Thank you for supporting the exhibition, Arts Promotion Centre Finland.
