“An old boundary fence runs through the forest near the Hämeenlinna open prison. It is rusted and broken in places, and does not prevent passage to or from the prison. The only obstacles to passage are the densely growing bushes. Despite its openness, the fence is a very concrete boundary, the immovability of which is evidenced by the trees growing next to the fence. Over time, the thick wire of the fence has pressed a hole into the side of the trees, and as the tree gradually grows, a strangely shaped lump has formed around the wire. 

When looking at the landscape, such strange interfaces seem to be everywhere. Some of them conceptual, some very concrete. Some are created by the inaccuracy of human perception and vision. We cannot see very far, nor behind or through things. Our memory is also limited and time erodes even the fragments that we have taken with us from the past. Cracks begin to appear in a previously intact picture.

The interfaces between human achievements and nature create traces and impressions in the landscape. The jagged surface of a tree also remains as a feeling for a moment on the skin of the palm. The sensation of touch is triggered by the mechanical depression of cell membranes. Sensations also create depressions at the level of thoughts and we store our memories in these depressions created in the mind.

The layers of time and place become fragile, sometimes disappearing and sometimes reappearing. The contours of the landscape change, even deeply buried memories are not safe from oblivion. It is difficult to say whether the view is covered in thick fog, or whether the image has simply faded away with time. Even trees growing on fences cannot be sure whether the wire has caused them suffering, whether the lump is a man-made scar on the tree trunk, or whether the trees have grown without caring in the slightest about the boundaries built by man in the forest.”

– Kati Lehtonen

Kati Lehtonen (born 1979) lives and works in Hämeenlinna. She graduated as a visual artist from Kankaanpää Art School (SAMK) in 2004 and as a Master of Fine Arts from the Academy of Fine Arts in 2011.

Lehtonen works using, among others, drawing, painting, graphics and photography techniques. His themes stem from looking at and experiencing the landscape. Although nature conservation themes also play a role in the background, he approaches the landscape particularly from the perspective of human temporality, the limitations of perception and the themes of existence. Lehtonen is particularly interested in themes related to time and its passage; transience, fading, fading, memories, movement and attachment to place.

Lehtonen has held solo exhibitions since 2006 and has participated in several group exhibitions in Finland and abroad. Lehtonen’s works are in the collections of the State, Helsinki Art Museum, Wihuri Fund and Hämeenlinna Art Museum, among others.

Links:
www.katilehtonen.com