Julianna Hyrri, Five timeframes, countless companionships, 2022
Juliana Hyrri (b. 1989, Kohtla-Järve, Estonia) is a Helsinki-based visual artist, illustrator and award-winning cartoonist. In her art, Hyrri often deals with the themes of otherness, growth, and events that evoke conflicting emotions. The overlap and layering of narration are essential in her practice. Hyrri holds a Master of Arts degree from Aalto University and is studying for a Master of Fine Arts at the Academy of Fine Arts Helsinki.
I find the topic of artist residencies and friendships very personal and relevant for me as an artist. At any residence, time always seems to run out and eventually, people leave for different roads. The image hints at moments where activities have been interrupted: food is on the table, sketches and supplies are wide open, and the outdoor space flows into the interior. I have used photographs and my own experiences of the residencies I have been in as references. As time has passed, my memories have intertwined into a rich collage.
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READIn this project, 100 letters were sent to the friends, relatives and acquaintances of the organizing team. The letter described how much we missed their hugs, which had been withheld for a year due to COVID. The addressees were asked to send us an item of clothing that was old, worn out, and had seen its last days in their closet.
An Equivalence of Our Distance
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READI am fascinated by memories from my childhood in the ’90s. I remember that there were posters around Finland back then (and later on), attached to various places by some religious groups. The posters said in bold capital letters “JESUS IS COMING ARE YOU READY” written in Finnish.
Vulnerability is coming
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READPerhaps what makes me who I am is not only the things I have now but also the things I have lost or I long for.
Places
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READI personally don’t like to be touched so I rarely get my hair done. I wanted to capture that moment of how it feels for me in the first hour of braiding since I can’t quite put it into words. There’s anxiety but also excitement. A feeling of foreignness but also of belonging, warmth and kinship. It’s ordinary and also a special occasion.
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