It’s Only Art?

Ceramics has been one of the most interesting areas for contemporary art trends. The medium has more range than sculpture for many reasons - and that range is well exploited by the artists we see working today. When I first saw the work of Pekka Paikkari I was reminded of artists working in other media - Anish Kapoor, Antoni Tapies, and Isamu Noguchi. Those loose associations are brought to mind by Pekka’s formS, surface textures, and neutral coloring. While Peter Voulkos’ forms revolve around the turned, hollow pot, Pekka’S revolve around the slab.

There are some very interesting exhbits of Pekka’s work at these websites and The Museum of Contemporary Art at Turku , Finland. I asked Pekka some questions and share his responses here.

How did you get into art? “I went to work at Arabia Ceramic Factory straight after my studies 1983. I worked first as a model-maker and assistant for the artists. My first solo exhibition was 1985. The same year I made some of my very first designs together with Mrs. Kati Tuominen-Niittyla.”

Do you remember the first art works you did that you felt satisfied you? “I don’t know if there is any? Maybe some of my latest wall pieces (’Points of Fracture’) are this kind. With these things I can feel myself free to do just what I want. It took twenty years to reach the point.”

Do you have an area of specialization? “Fired Clay”

What kinds of subject matter do you prefer? “Historical Context, Everyday life.”

What will be your next project? “Neverending / Solo Exhibition at Museum of Contemporary Art, Ars Nova & AboaVetus, at Turku City Finland. The Exhibition ends January 28, 2007. And in January 2007 in Taiwan, an Outdoor Sculpture Project.”

Do you ever use exotic materials or techniques? “I try to create my own methods and techniques. Patina-like surfaces.”

What kind of tools/light/studio do you prefer? “I keep my tools as simple as possible. This means that things are easily becoming quite complicated to make.”

What are your sources of inspiration? “Stories. I have created my own Memory Bank for the ideas. All the projects are like circles. It does not matter if these are small or large. After time to time these circles are cutting each other and there are new ideas coming through this.”

What artists do you admire? “Fred Wilson, Antony Gormley, Hugo Simberg.”

What was the toughest project/commission you’ve encountered? “Three years of exhibition projects during ‘04-’06. ‘I Remember’ 2004,
‘Lost Dialoque’ 2005, ‘Neverending’ 2006.”

Have you gotten any interesting stories about exhibitions? “All the exhibitions are like neverending stories. Once you start the project there is no turning back.”

- Daniel Ferris