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, but she also utilizes sculpturing and textile designing methods in her arts. Kupsala explores consumerism and its social and ecological sustainability through personal point of view. Now Kupsala examines what kind of world she is performing on her behalf through her consuming habits of apparel. In her artistic work, Kupsala seeks relation between clothes she consumes and the social and ecological impacts of the clothing manufacture and supply. She also seeks ways to perform differently, since the clothing industry is not sustainable. Through her art, Kupsala shares perceptions and experiences she has learnt to the audience and maintains discussion about the over consumption and unsustainable clothing industry.

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Works from the artist

Name of the work: 21 841 grammaa tuhlausta

Name of the work: Intervention I: Inventory of My Wardrobe

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.

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