Imaginary Meetings

Riitta Päiväläinen’s work could be defined as the emotional archaeology of the ordinary. Using old clothes she finds in secondhand shops and flea markets, the artist creates installations in landscapes and photographs them. By soaking the garments in water and placing them outside in the Finnish winter, for example, tthey freeze solid, filling out as if someone were wearing them. The garments represent both the presence and the absence of their former owners.

Finnish photographer Riitta Päiväläinen is a member of the internationally renowned Helsinki School and is represented by Gallery TaiK, among others.