Introduction of the Artistic Committee: Jaakko Niemelä

A five-member artistic committee is responsible for the artistic quality and content of the KampusART arts programme. Their task is to prepare the presentations of artworks for the new building and its surroundings to the steering group. In the coming weeks, we will present all the artistic committee members and their thoughts on the arts programme and public art.

Visual artist Jaakko Niemelä is interested in combining his artworks with natural and artificial light, as well as shadows and darkness. In his sculptures, installations and public works he studies light in space: how materials reflect light and how artistic lighting can be combined with functional needs.

Jaakko Niemelä received the State Prize for Visual Arts 2005 and the Helsinki Culture Award 2009. In 2010, he was a candidate for the Ars Fennica art award. He has had several solo exhibitions and participated in numerous group exhibitions in Finland and abroad. Jaakko Niemelä has created public art works in Finland, Sweden, Norway and Australia. His artworks are in several art collections, such as collections of the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma.

What do you expect for the KampusART arts programme?

Artists can work with architects and other designers to design fascinating artworks for the indoor and outdoor premises of the new building on Kupittaa campus. I hope that the campus building and the artworks will form an interesting entity.

What public artwork has impressed you and why?

The Utöya monument by Jonas Wahlberg (planned, not implemented). Millions of years old island has changed. A piece of granite has been cut off from the island. A crack has been made on the cape. The crevice is filled with water that can no longer be traversed to the tip of the peninsula. Something has changed for good. The monument is an excellent and impressive depiction of the tragic event and grief.