Merja Salonen Di Giorgio

Merja Salonen Di Giorgio
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Helsingin taiteilijaseuran taidelainaamoGalleria 12, HelsinkiTaikotyöhuone, avoinna sopimuksen mukaan

Basic information

b. 1973, Tampere
Visual Artist, Painter
Residence: Helsinki

Contact information

Artist’s Statement

I have a great interest of traces of human life in cultural environment, athmosphere of place, ´genius loci´, and layers of history. Also the idea of Grand Tour is fascinating. -Where was the point at which the exotic became homely and homely became exotic?

For the past 20 years, I have been living between the Finnish and the Italian culture. That influences my approach greatly. I am in both of them simultaneously and I if I wish, I can observe their phenomena as an outsider, too.

During the painting process, I find it important to be open and give space for the ´speechless´ so that the invisible can come visible in the work. As main techniques I use oil on canvas and mixed media on paper. The historical materials and techniques are important and I use them with a new twist. The material becomes an issue per se and gives another conceptual layer to the body of work.

I have also realised commissioned environmental pieces in Helsinki: the Garden and the Piers. In Finnish Painters´Union I have ordinary membership. Among other collections, my work is found in the collections of the City of Helsinki And the Lahti Art Museum.

For more, see: www.merjasdg.net
Show biography

Current information

See also:

www.merjasdg.net

IG @merjasalonendigiorgio

 

ongoing:

Paintings available at eko beauty salon Terra Te Amo, Albertinkatu 17, Helsinki March 19th - June 19th 2014.

 

upcoming:

URBANA HORTUS, May 8th. - 26th, 2024, Helsinki Artists´Association  collective exhibition in Ahjo, Joensuu. Opening on May 7th 2024.

Luovuus ITÄä, June 12th  - August 18th 2024. Taidekortteli ry / Art Block Group Exhibition at Stoa Culture Center, Itäkeskus, Helsinki.

Meet the artists on August 15th 2024.

 

Past:

THE SALES EVENT OF THE FINNISH PAINTERS’ UNION
March 8th - 17th 2024 at the Cable Factory, HelsinkiKaapelitehdas, Merikaapelihalli
Tallberginkatu 1 c, 00180 Helsinki



Online Feb 23rd – April 3rd

teosvalitys.painters.fi


 

Taidekortteli / Art Block

Christmas event Dec. 9th 11am - 5 pm

Levytie 2-4 and Laippatie 21, Helsinki

https://taidekortteli.fi/taidekorttelin-joulumyyjaiset-9-12-2023-klo-11-17/

There is everything and more.

You will find me at Levytie 2-4 on Dec 9th 2pm-5pm. From me you can buy paintings and art books.

 

 

Helsinki Artists´Association has in their Art Lending space next to the Rikhardinkatu Library, Helsinki an ehibition ´Siirappia` -  ´Syrup´ from Dec. 14 2023 to Jan 14th 2024.

I partecipate with Aria dolce a Natale, oil on canvas, 2022.

Welcome!

https://taidelainaamo.fi/public/go.php?action=artist&artist_id=105717

 

 

The book Roihupelto - Pompeii (PARVS) was published in May 2023

https://parvs.fi/kirjat/roihupelto-pompeji/

Merja Salonen Di Giorgio is a painter who explores the layeredness of history and the traces left by humans in our cultural heritage. Roihupelto–Pompeii is a series of paintings featuring two places that hold personal significance for the artist: a 1970s semi-industrial precinct in east Helsinki and the ancient city of Pompeii on the slopes of Mt. Vesuvius. The paintings were inspired by the dialogue emerging between these two places which, upon closer examination, have surprisingly much in common. Salonen Di Giorgio examines her theme through the lens of loss, from a future perspective – looking back after irreversible change and destruction have already occurred. The text is authored by architect and visual artist Anu Kaisa Koponen, who reflects on the connections between the paintings and architecture. Her essay is accompanied by art historian Synnöve Malmström's interview with the artist, which takes an in-depth look at how the paintings came into being.

 

article about the exhibition and the book Roihupelto-Pompei by Hannele Salminen (in Finnish):

 

http://kirjasta-kirjaan.blogspot.com/2023/05/merja-salonen-di-giorgio-roihupelto.html

 

 

 

 

 

Bio

Merja Susanna Salonen Di Giorgio was born 1973 in Tampere. She lives and works in Helsinki. From 1998 on she has been working regularly in Italy, too. The most important techniques are oil on canvas and mixed media on paper as well as the environmental art. Salonen Di Giorgio graduated with the Master of Arts degree at the Fine Arts Department, Pallas Program at the University of Art and Design, UIAH, Helsinki in 1999 (nowadays Aalto Univeristy). She has the ordinary membership of the Finnish Painters´ Union. Her paintings were exhibited for the first time in a juryed exhibition in 1995. It was the 48th Young Artists´Exhibition at Helsinki Taidehalli. Since then, Salonen Di Giorgio has exhibited regularly in Finland and abroad. To name some one man shows of paintings:   Gallery Saskia, Tampere, 2017 Gallery G12, Helsinki, 2014 Lapinlahti Art Museum, 2010 Taidesalonki / Konstsalongen, Helsinki 2010 Galleria Uusitalo, Helsinki, 2005 Galleria Katariina, Helsinki, 2000, 2014 Public works in Helsinki: Piers, 2008, (concrete) Memory Tracks, 2005 (concrete) and Garden, 2000 (copper, alluminium, paint) Radisson Plaza, at Mikonkatu 23. In 1998-2000 Salonen Di Giorgio realised a photo exhibition Helsinki in Florence, Florence in Helsinki: Painterly details of walls shown directly in the streets, exchanging places of the subjects to study "genius loci". In 2003 she published a book ´Helsinki in Florence, Florence in Helsinki ´about the project. The introduction was written by Yrjö Larmola, the cultural director of the City of Helsinki. In 2014 she published a book ´Grand Tour´ of her paintings with the introduction of Minerva Keltanen, the acting director of Sinebrychoff Art Museum, National Gallery of Finland. Salonen Di Giorgio´s work can be found among the following collections: City of Helsinki, Lahti Museum of Art Tampere-Maja Association, Estonia, SOK Aalto University Okopankki Bank.   Salonen Di Giorgio enjoys listening to baroque music and joining it by dancing.