“I seek, do, find – and take pictures. I don’t interfere with the space, but the human presence awakens it.” – Elina Brotherus

Elina Brotherus, Finnish artist working in photography, opens her three-part exhibition compilation, Space – Time – Movement, this October in Jyväskylä, Finland. This unprecedentedly extensive, themed exhibition trilogy presents a new series on Alvar Aalto’s architecture as well as work from periods throughout the artist’s whole career. The Space exhibition at Aalto2 Museum Centre deals with Brotherus’ relationship to architecture. The Time exhibition at the Jyväskylä Art Museum focuses on work from the artist’s long career. And, along with photography, the Movement exhibition at Ratamo Gallery also presents several moving image artworks. Elina Brotherus is one of Finland’s most internationally renowned contemporary photography artists. The three Jyväskylä exhibitions showcase an exceptionally broad example of Brotherus’ work.

Space / Aalto2 / 27 Oct 2023 – 4 Feb 2024
The Aalto2 Museum Centre will premiere a new series by Brotherus. Over the past few years, this series was photographed in several buildings designed by Alvar Aalto: The Aalto House in Helsinki, Muuratsalo Experimental House in Jyväskylä and the Paimio Sanatorium in Paimio.

These new works in the Space exhibition deal with a personal experience of the buildings. Layers of time can be sensed in the images; stories and feelings form a relationship between the human figure and the space.  At the same time, the work brings attention to the specific architectural and design language of Alvar Aalto in a more relatable form, in comparison to traditional architectural imagery.

This exhibition is curated by the Alvar Aalto Museum.

Time / Jyväskylä Art Museum / 27 Oct 2023 – 4 Feb 2024
The retrospective exhibition Time is an extensive regard on Elina Brotherus’ art over the course of her long career as a lens-based artist. Brotherus made an early breakthrough with her autobiographical work and later she engaged in dialogue with art history, landscape and architecture. Recurring elements in her production are the human figure, reflections and careful use of colour. Alongside photography, this exhibition also shows the artist’s time related video work.

Movement / Ratamo Gallery / 27 Oct – 10 Dec 2023
Movement in its many forms is the thread connecting the different artwork shown in the Ratamo Gallery. A red ball, a scarf or even the suspended movement of a dancer, like a human sculpture in various positions, challenge the viewer to react. The exhibition also presents a series of rarely seen, delicate, plant themed cyanotypes.

Challenging oneself, without forgetting humour, is emphasised in Elina Brotherus’ images. The gallery will present Finland’s premiere of a new video filmed with dancer Vera Nevanlinna, one week after the world premiere in Norway.

Elina Brotherus
Elina Brotherus (b. 1972) works in photography and moving image. Her work has moved between the autobiographical and art historical approaches. Concepts of the human figure and landscape, dealing with the relationship between artist and model have recently developed into a playful performative practice.

Brotherus lives and works in Helsinki and Avallon, France. She held her first international exhibition in 1997. Brotherus’ work figures in many public collections such as the Pompidou Centre in Paris, the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, the Moderna Museet in Stockholm, the Museum Folkwang in Essen and the MAXXI in Rome. Brotherus has received several significant awards. She is currently working under the title of “Artist Professor” awarded from the Arts Promotion Centre Finland.

The Aalto2 Museum Centre is a new meeting place for architecture, design and cultural heritage in Jyväskylä, Finland.