Emma Peura
Basic information
b. 1988, Kauhava
artist, printmaker
Residence: Helsinki
Artist’s Statement
I am a visual artist who works with questions of trace and matter as well as nature’s processes. In my works, I deal with the feeling of rootlessness and my personal history through places that are meaningful to me. I work in collaboration and interaction with the environment. The materials that my works consist of, and the techniques with which the works are made, tell their own part of the content and meanings of the works. I make art together with the forest using the Forest Etching and Swamp Etching methods that I have developed. I collect natural materials from which I make pigments and papers for my works. I graduated with an MFA from the Academy of Fine Arts of the University of the Arts Helsinki in 2020. My works are in the collections of Kiasma, Finnish State Art Deposit, and The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH), Texas, USA, to name a few.
Forest Etching is a method I developed in 2018. In traditional etching methods, traces are etched onto the surface of a copper plate by immersing the plate in ferric chloride for several minutes. The imprints are then rubbed with ink and printed on paper with a press. In forest etching, acidic soils corrode the copper plates: I have replaced iron chloride with forest. Hence the name of the technique. I hide copper plates in forests, in places that are meaningful to me. I let the time do it's work. I fetch the plates and print them on paper, like any other intaglio plate.
I am one of the founding members of Helsingin Paperipaja ry. Helsingin Paperipaja is a papermaking workshop and artist community located in Roihupelto, Helsinki, Finland. At HPP, we are making high-grade contemporary art by respecting traditional craftmanship. The workshop is maintained by Helsingin Paperipaja ry, an association founded in 2019. The artist members are professionals working in various techniques. What brings them together is their shared love for paper. Helsingin Paperipaja is the only papermaking workshop in Finland that’s main focus – in addition to maintining a workshop – is in finding new forms of expression in the context of contemporary paper art. At the workshop, artists are able to manufacture Western and Japanese style paper for their artistic practice. The association also arranges papermaking courses. www.paperipaja.com
Forest Etching is a method I developed in 2018. In traditional etching methods, traces are etched onto the surface of a copper plate by immersing the plate in ferric chloride for several minutes. The imprints are then rubbed with ink and printed on paper with a press. In forest etching, acidic soils corrode the copper plates: I have replaced iron chloride with forest. Hence the name of the technique. I hide copper plates in forests, in places that are meaningful to me. I let the time do it's work. I fetch the plates and print them on paper, like any other intaglio plate.
I am one of the founding members of Helsingin Paperipaja ry. Helsingin Paperipaja is a papermaking workshop and artist community located in Roihupelto, Helsinki, Finland. At HPP, we are making high-grade contemporary art by respecting traditional craftmanship. The workshop is maintained by Helsingin Paperipaja ry, an association founded in 2019. The artist members are professionals working in various techniques. What brings them together is their shared love for paper. Helsingin Paperipaja is the only papermaking workshop in Finland that’s main focus – in addition to maintining a workshop – is in finding new forms of expression in the context of contemporary paper art. At the workshop, artists are able to manufacture Western and Japanese style paper for their artistic practice. The association also arranges papermaking courses. www.paperipaja.com
Current information
Kalevala Society’s Recognition Award for a Distinguished Artist 2025 has been awarded to Emma PeuraCorrespondence – Kirjeenvaihto 2025
portfolio exchange and exhibition project
13.–27.2.2025 Yö Galleria, Helsinki
5.4.–26.4.2025 Red Bud Arts Center, Houston, Texas, USA
The Correspondence - Kirjeenvaihto portfolio is part of the collection of MFAH, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, USA
