A throwback to AARK Open Studios in June

Author: 
Aarón Blanco Tejedor
Bio:
Aarón, born and raised in Spain, found his roots in Korpo after living and working on the island for a summer. He moved to Korpo over eight years ago and now lives on the small island of Wattkast.

A few years after moving to Korpo, Aarón and her lifelong partner Ida-Kajsa founded Ubuntu Productions, a company where they use their many talents to help local projects thrive, offering services such as branding, graphic design, web design and development, photography, videography and more. For more than seven years they have been publishing the local and rural monthly magazine Korpo Bladet, in which they feature AARK artists whenever they can, giving them space to share their reflections, stories, art or whatever. You can find most of these articles on the artists page of this website.
Social Networks:
Promotional image for the Archipelago Art Residency Open Studios on June 29, 2024

A few times a year, the artists who come to stay at our own art residency in Korpo decide to open the doors of their studios to visitors. I personally find these events fascinating and make sure not to miss them, as they are interesting on so many levels. It's a great opportunity to meet new people from Finland and abroad, with fresh perspectives on this island I love. They are creative people who dedicate their lives to observing, introspecting, reflecting and creating, they are often fun and have a lot of reflections or stories to share.

During these Open Studio events, artists open their studios and they usually have some of the work they have been working on during their residency on display. You can wander through them at your own pace or be guided by the artists, who are usually eager to answer any questions you might have.

Three people stand in front of a wall map. One person is pointing at the map while the others observe attentively.
A person stands holding an object, partially obscured by a projection displaying a nature scene with rocks and foliage on the wall behind them.
A woman stands next to a table displaying various artworks. She holds a piece of paper in her left hand and is dressed casually in a blue shirt and blue pants. The room has light-colored walls and wooden flooring.

The studios serve as both living and workspace for the artists during their residency, thus, it's important to approach them with the same respect as you would someone's home. This adds an intimate touch to the experience, offering a glimpse into the life of an artist in residence at Korpo. By looking through the big windows, you can appreciate how the proximity of the residency to the sea and the forest inspire many of the artists' creations.

The summer version of the Open Studios was held on June 29th, coinciding with the opening of the new studio that many of you may have noticed evolving as you drove to or from the ferry.

Many visitors answered the call and the atmosphere was vibrant and joyful. People of different generations enjoyed meeting other people from different parts of the world. Resident artist Gary DeMichele from the USA played the keyboard on the porch of the new studio, while Oksana Mykhanko from Ukraine, Yuan Lin (Wendy) from China and Renja Leino exhibited their work both inside the new studio and in the surrounding area.

Gill / Akasaka, from the UK but living in Finland and on her fourth visit to AARK, showed many ink works in her studio, played her sea drum and singing bowls, and gathered visitors for conversations about creativity and meditation, while Elodie from Switzerland (whose article you can read above) brought stories from her extended stay on the island.

I personally took along Thor and we had a wonderful time. The exchange of ideas and experiences between the visitors was enriching for us, and it was fascinating to see how art can connect people from different parts of the world. It was clear that AARK is not just a physical space, but a hub for creativity and cultural exchange.

Three people stand in front of a wall map. One person is pointing at the map while the others observe attentively.
A person stands holding an object, partially obscured by a projection displaying a nature scene with rocks and foliage on the wall behind them.
A woman stands next to a table displaying various artworks. She holds a piece of paper in her left hand and is dressed casually in a blue shirt and blue pants. The room has light-colored walls and wooden flooring.

So if you are interested or curious about attending one of these Open Studios, follow the AARK Facebook page to find out when the next one is happening.

Welcome subscribe to our newsletter.
Wepbage created by Ubuntu Productions (Korpo)
Most of the pictures by Renja Leino  |  Drone and pictures of the studios by Ubuntu Productions (Korpo)