Saariston Juuret II

Wall Relief, 2024

Wild red clay from Kökar island, Åland archipelago, Finland

22 x 36 x 6 cm

In Tuomo Sopanen Collection

The relief artwork serie is inspired by the rugged yet vibrant nature of the Finnish Åland archipelago, where the rough texture of the soil merges with the delicate and organic forms of nature. The red clay, digged from Kökar island, embodies the timelessness and strength of the archipelago’s red granite soil. The textures of branches, roots, and tree bark reflect nature’s continuous cycle and renewal.

The inspiration for these works emerged in the summer of 2023 during my stay at the Kökar artist residency in Åland.

Part of the artist fee was donated to John Nurminen Foundation for the Baltic Sea protection work.