Riikka Kupsala

Basic information

b. 1981, Ruukki

Visual Artist

Residence: Turku

Contact information

Email: riikka(at)kupsala.net

Artist’s Statement

Riikka Kupsala (b. 1981, Ruukki) is a visual artist living in Turku and working at Taiteen talo. She works conceptually in time and space arts. Kupsala’s artistic expression is based on moving images, and sculpturing and textile designing methods. She also utilizes data and elements from activism, participatory arts, and performance arts in her work. Kupsala explores consumerism and its social and ecological sustainability through personal point of view. In 2023 she had a solo exhibition on the ecological and social sustainability of apparel. The exhibition was composed of parts created with mixed methods and materials. Now Kupsala is working on her main topic – the sustainability of consumerism – further in the context of clothing and food industry.

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Works from the artist

Name of the work: Pukineiden valmistusmateriaalien alkuperä, pukineiden paino 62,9 kg

Name of the work: Pukineiden punnitus: Vuoden 2020 inventaarion pukineet, niiden polyesteri- ja puuvillakuitujen määrä sekä näiden kuitujen valmistuksen ja kankaankudonnan vedenkulutusPukineiden punnitus: Vuoden 2020 inventaarion pukineet, niiden polyesteri- ja puuvillakuitujen määrä sekä näiden kuitujen valmistuksen ja kankaankudonnan vedenkulutus

Name of the work: Pukineiden omistusaika, osa 1: Vuoden 2020 inventaarion pukineet, pukineiden paino 38,9 kg

Name of the work: 21,8 kg tuhlausta: Vuonna 2018 käytöstä poistetut pukineet

Name of the work: Intervention II: Cotton

Name of the work: Repeating Performances: Body Control

Name of the work: Disemboweling My Old Friend Daniel

Bio

Riikka Kupsala graduated as Bachelor of Fine Arts from TUAS Arts Academy in 2017. She had a solo exhibition titled as To Be Seen at Köysirata Gallery in Turku as an artistic diploma work. For that exhibition she made four video works about beauty routines. Since graduation Kupsala has presented her artworks in solo or group exhibitions annually in Turku.

In 2020 Kupsala had a solo exhibition titled as Consumer Intervention at B-galleria in Turku. The exhibition presented three artworks: two video installations and one installation which consisted of eight Instagram-posts, a textile work, prints and a one channel video. The topic of the exhibition was consumerism in the context of dressing and beauty routines. In 2021 Kupsala participated in a group exhibition titled as Overflow – Visual Artists of Taiteen talo. She presented her artwork titled as 21 841 grams of waste which delt with consumerism of apparel and was made of textile sculpture, printed publication, and a one channel video.

In 2023 Kupsala had a solo exhibition titled as Weight of fabric which was composed of parts created with mixed methods and materials. Textile- and video-based pieces convey information on garments, their manufacturing processes, acquisition, use, and disposal. As a part of the exhibition, there was Instagram posts that were made on certain pieces of clothing, challenging their manufacturers to be more transparent on their business models. The exhibition also hosted a workshop, where visitors had a chance to stitch nature themed clothes patches.

TOP-Säätiö (2018), The Finnish Cultural Foundation Varsinais-Suomi Regional Fund (2020), Arts Promotion Centre Finland (2021, 2023), City of Turku (2022), and The VISEK Centre for the Promotion of Visual Art (2023) have supported Kupsala’s artistic work.