Erkki Pirtola: Works on Paper / 8 September 2023 – 4 February 2024 in HAM Helsinki Art Museum

Share

Erkki Pirtola was a versatile artist who was also known as a writer and documentarist. Pirtola considered drawing his primary medium. In addition to drawings, Works on Paper presents other works on paper, such as collages and watercolours. The exhibition is a portrait of the artist’s sincerity and his deeply human sense of humour as well as his manic need for self-expression and documentation.

Erkki Pirtola: Soft Yrjö, 1978. © Erkki Pirtola’s estate. Photo: HAM/Viljami Annanolli
Erkki Pirtola: Soft Yrjö, 1978. © Erkki Pirtola’s estate. Photo: HAM/Viljami Annanolli

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.

Keywords

Contacts

Images

Erkki Pirtola: Tööt, 1977. © Erkki Pirtola's estate. Photo: Veli Granö
Erkki Pirtola: Tööt, 1977. © Erkki Pirtola's estate. Photo: Veli Granö
Download
Erkki Pirtola:  Maaemo lukee vesikirjaa, 1978. © Erkki Pirtola's estate. Photo: Veli Granö
Erkki Pirtola: Maaemo lukee vesikirjaa, 1978. © Erkki Pirtola's estate. Photo: Veli Granö
Download
Erkki Pirtola: Yrjö yksin, 1978. © Erkki Pirtola's estate. Photo: Veli Granö
Erkki Pirtola: Yrjö yksin, 1978. © Erkki Pirtola's estate. Photo: Veli Granö
Download
Erkki Pirtola and outsider artist Johannes Ivakko. Lahti, 2000. Photo: Veli Granö
Erkki Pirtola and outsider artist Johannes Ivakko. Lahti, 2000. Photo: Veli Granö
Download
Erkki Pirtola painting in Pirtin sali, Kangasniemi, in 1985. Photo: Antti Laaksonen.
Erkki Pirtola painting in Pirtin sali, Kangasniemi, in 1985. Photo: Antti Laaksonen.
Download

Subscribe to releases from HAM Helsingin taidemuseo

Subscribe to all the latest releases from HAM Helsingin taidemuseo by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Latest releases from HAM Helsingin taidemuseo

Blanca de la Torre and Kati Kivinen announced as head curators of Helsinki Biennial 202514.9.2023 16:15:00 EEST | Press release

Helsinki Biennial announces the appointment of Blanca de la Torre and Kati Kivinen as head curators of its third edition, taking place in summer 2025. The biennial continues to promote and commission thought-provoking, ambitious international contemporary art while making connections between artists from Finland and around the world. Helsinki Biennial is strongly committed to responsible exhibition-making.

Blanca de la Torre ja Kati Kivinen valittu vuoden 2025 Helsinki Biennaalin pääkuraattoreiksi14.9.2023 16:15:00 EEST | Tiedote

Vuoden 2025 Helsinki Biennaalin pääkuraattoreiksi on nimitetty Blanca de la Torre ja Kati Kivinen. Kansainvälinen nykytaidetapahtuma järjestetään kolmatta kertaa kesällä 2025, ja se tuo jälleen yhteen taiteilijoita Suomesta ja maailmalta. Biennaali on sitoutunut ajatuksia herättävän, kunnianhimoisen taiteen esittämiseen ja vastuulliseen tapaan tuottaa taidetta.

In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.

Visit our pressroom