Erkki Pirtola (1950–2016) was a man of many roles in the arts field. He was known as a critic, writer and documentarist and an expert in self-made or outsider art. Pirtola recorded events in the Finnish art world and wrote articles for a number of publications. His career spanned various media from paintings to installations and from performance art to videos, but drawing was Pirtola’s primary medium. His roots lie in the University of Helsinki’s Art Room, where he studied in the early 1970s.

Works on Paper exhibits Pirtola’s drawings, collages and watercolours from the course of his career. In addition to documenting everyday phenomena and occurrences, he traced the extensive beauty of the human body and depicted imaginary fantasy worlds. To select the pieces for the exhibition, the curator went through thousands of works and sketches.

While the exhibition presents a virtuoso drawer, it is also an image of a time of innocence. It portrays the artist’s sincerity and his deeply human sense of humour as well as his manic need for self-expression and documentation.  

Works on Paper has been curated by Veikko Halmetoja in collaboration with Erkki Pirtola’s sons.

In connection with the exhibition, Veli Granö’s book will be published as part of HAM Helsinki Art Museum’s publication series: Erkkilys Pirtomas Suomen taidetta pelastamassa – Erkki Pirtolan värikäs elämä (Kustannusosakeyhtiö Parvs, 2023). 

Media representatives are welcome to attend curator Veikko Halmetoja's exhibition tour (in Finnish) on 7 September at 11 am. Sign up at reetta.haarajoki@hamhelsinki.fi.