Outi Pieski at Tatę St Ives

 

  

 

      

 

Images from the top Outi Pieski, Beavvit – Rising Together II, 2021; Portrait by Heikki Tuuli, Rástegáisa lágalaš riektesubjeaktan II Sacred Mountain Rástegáisa as a Legal Person I, 2018;  Photo Jussi Tiainen; Golleeana Land of Gold, 2013. © Ella Tommila EMMA – Espoo Museum of Modern Art; Silbajohka Silver River, 2014. Photo Jussi Tiainen; Skabmavuoddu – Spell on Me!

 

 

There is no question that galleries are increasingly featuring fine artists who use textiles as their medium. You still have to seek it out though which makes it such a rewarding experience when you visit a textile exhibition. Tate St Ives has just opened Outi Pieski’s first large-scale exhibition in the UK. I haven’t seen Outi’s work before and to see it together in such a beautiful environment made it even more special. Her art is not only visually astounding but has so much to say.

 

Outi is an artist and an activist. Much of her work revolves around the environment and inhabitants of her homeland of Sapmi. This is an area in the Arctic Circle divided between Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia where the Indigenous Sami have lived for hundreds of years. Outi’s work explores issues including elements of Sami culture that have been lost, and highlights how developments, proposed or otherwise, impact the Sami homelands and Indigenous people’s rights.  

 

Acrylic landscape paintings have a mesmerising dream-like quality that is beautiful with an eerie undertone. They convey nature as a living, spiritual force and framing the canvases with hand knotted tassels used on traditional Sami shawls reminds you that people survive and thrive in these landscapes. Their culture, heritage and land need to be protected. 

 

What Outi calls ‘three dimensional pieces’ take centre stage. Outi’s largest installation has been shown around the world, and when you experience it you can see why. The bonus of this exhibition is a new piece created for the show during a residency at Tate St Ives, the colours of which hint at the Cornish environment.

 

With all of the conflict in the world, this burst of colour, the skill of the handmade and the uplifting ‘three dimensional pieces,’ left me feeling a little more optimistic. With artists like Outi PIeski, issues do not go unnoticed and bring awareness to those who are looking. 

 

Outi Pieski is exhibiting at Tate St Ives until 6th of May 2024. https://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-st-ives

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