Here we artists live, on different islands, meeting at AARK on Korpo Island!

Artists Timo O Nenonen and Kimmo Ylönen came to prepare their works.

Barefoot Path 10 years anniversary 2021. Welcome to visit www.barfotastigen.com

When Venla Ilona Blom revisited our residency, she came together with the members of Piirainen Blom Company to compose new music. They recorded one of their compositions in the medieval church of Korpo. Here you can enjoy the video of the recording.

From AARK residency we want to thank Esa Killström for giving this oportunity. We wish to arrange a whole concert later on.

In her second visit Venla wrote a post in out Work In Progress blog for artists in residency, you can find it here

Following discolouring of fabrics and movement in jello have been our ways of submerging in to the slow retreat of AARK.

Rubuzak art collective makes experimental installations in which the materials are allowed to carry the process. The process is always set in motion by sensing and sensitising in space. Rubuzak’s works often contain elements or fragments from our previous art works. The ongoing process is a consultation between the changing parts; us artists, our materials, the places, and the art itself. In addition to ecological thinking, the reuse of materials is based on magical thinking, where the experiences of the material are taken into consideration and how they affect the future. Working together with another artist emphasizes the unity of ideas and the division of art. In Rubuzak’s work, we are usually unable to distinguish from whom or where an idea comes from. It’s liberating when things seem to happen on their own.

In AARK we focused on our project with colour blue, fluid materials and fabrics. We worked two ways, inside with cooking and steaming and outside with the sun and rain. We experimented colour blue with cyanotype, local seasonal herb wood sorrel (Oxalis acetosella) and Korpo Handel K-market´s merchandise like blue lemonade and frozen blueberries that we used in making an anthotype.

We both studied Fine Arts in Turku University of Applied Sciences Arts Academy and graduated in 2020. In addition to our own final works we made a final work by Rubuzak which was granted with one month residency in AARK by Sparbanksstiftelsen i Korpo.  We are very pleased and happy for this attention and the opportunity for intensive working together and creating something new. Thank you for the grant!

During the pandemic there have been only Finland based artists here in AARK. We are very happy to have been able to have them, even despite the current situation!

Currently, artists collective RUBUZAK by Appe Leppänen and Salla Sillgren are working for 1 month artist residency at AARK. They both graduated from TUAS Arts Academy Fine Arts in May 2020. Their residency grant is supported by Sparbanksstiftelsen i Korpo, thank you! https://rubuzak.wordpress.com/

Venla Kaasinen, a second-year photography student from TUAS Arts Academy, is working as an assistant in AARK for May. www.instagram.com/found.moments/

We also welcome musician Venla Ilona Blom back to AARK for the third time! She just arrived today.
www.vilonamusic.com

WELCOME BACK TO AARK, please take care and See You Soon!

Many of the artist that have been in our residency during these years, are right now having important shows around the world. Here you can discover some of them.

Marco Dessardo, AARK artist 2019

The Marco Dessardo is having an exhibition in Brussels right now: Plans Anti-Dérive, Quadriennale de la Fuite. Some of the works in that exhibition were created while his residency at AARK. He was here in 2019 as a part of the Between Island project. You can read about that project in the issue N26 of Korpo Bladet.

Link to Dessardo´s webpage: http://dessardo.com/

Chris Sheridan, AARK artist 2019 coming back in 2021

Chris Sheridan was here in 2019 and have the intention to come back in the fall 2021 together with his wife and artist Kate (if the conditions allow them). Right now Chris has a solo show: Rediscovering Silence: A solo show of new paintings inspired by a recent art residency in the Finnish Archipelago.

You can read about the genesis of that show in our Work In Progress Artist Blog here.

Link to Chris Sheridan Webpage: SheridanArt

Molly Balcom Raleigh, AARK artist 2020

Molly Balcom Raleigh was here with her family in the summer 2020. She has just published a book about the Baltic sea: Baltic Sea book - Iltämerikirja. You can find more information about the book here.

Link to Molly´s webpage: mollybalcomraleigh.com

Lilli Haapala, AARK artist 2019 and board member.

Lilli Haapala, artist in residency in 2019 and AARK board member is having an exhibition in Aboa Vetus & Ars Nova until the 8.11.2020: Blues

You can find more information about the exhibition in the museum´s webpage here

"The newest installation from artist Lilli Haapala, titled Blues, is part of her multiyear project where she examines the concept of utopia from different viewpoints. Haapala is fascinated with the birth process of dreams, and the relationship between impressions and reality".

Link to Lilli´s webpage: www.lillihaapala.com

Venla Blom, musician, performance.
Marjut Brunila, writer
Susanna Tuuliainen, poet, writer.
Marja Salo, research phd writing.

Artists in June. WELCOME!

Akasaka, Gillian Crabbe, visual artist, painter. GRB living in Finland
Jaakko Autio, sound and installation artist. FIN
Marissa Mehr, writer. FIN

AARK warmly welcomes artists collective RUBUZAK by Appe Leppänen and Salla Sillgren for 1 month artist residency at AARK. They both graduated from TUAS Arts Academy Fine Arts in May 2020.
This residency grant is supported by Sparbanksstiftelsen i Korpo, thank you!

Vi tackar varm Sparbanksstiftelsen i Korpo för allt stöd!

AARK keeps temporary closed from today 17.3. and is opening again when possible, earliest 13.4.2020. We follow the official policy of Finland in Corona times.

We wish Safe Times to all our artists and friends and fellow citizens around the world!

Our warmest regards, Renja & Benkku

Welcome to contact us any time: info at aark.fi

• Justina Vilčinskaitė, Lt /NL https://rietveldacademie.nl/en/page/2830/justina-vilcinskaite
• Dovilė Aleksandravičiūtė, Lt / NL https://dovilea.weebly.com/
• Eric du Bellay, FR http://ericgdubellay.com/ 2 weeks
• Emmi Kallio, FIN http://emmikallio.com/ 2 weeks

DL 25.1.2019

Focus on your own artistic practice in the middle of the unique Archipelago Nature!

We are looking for art professionals from all disciplines for whom the surrounding Archipelago Nature, island life, the seaside and the forest could be an interesting area to contemplate, to research or a theme to work on. We encourage a dialog inside the residency and a dialog with local people and the environment.

You can apply a space for 1-3 months. We might even accept shorter visits for 2 weeks depending on timing. We offer you time to think and time to focus on your own artistic practice, to develop a new idea – or to continue on a work in progress. There is a small forest area by the residency even for site specific works.

AARK is located right by the ferry shore, you can follow the Sea Way from windows and from the yard. Our special area is the unique archipelago with thousands of islands, forest and Archipelago National Park, fresh air and clear sky. Darkness and silence in the winter… light summer nights, rich bird life.

However, this idyllic setting also has some heavy issues: we are concerned of the state of our Archipelago Sea. There is less fish than ever before, population is decreasing and services are being cut. Against all odds we want to keep our island and archipelago alive all year round. Welcome!

In Korpo and Nauvo islands there are good grocery stores, cafes and bakery and several summer restaurants. We have a great group of people and professional artists living in nearby who cooperate and with whom we have informal meetings, dinners etc. Actually, every artist who comes to the island forms how the residency is developing.

We believe that artists in a new environment see things in a different light and can possibly find new aspects on our everyday environment. We welcome a discussion. We encourage a dialog inside the residency AARK and a dialog with local people and the environment. We live on an island so some independence needed. The ferry and the bus goes in front of the house. We have bikes and a car for shorter trips. Even some small boat trips summertime might be possible. Connection ship towards outer archipelago goes opposite side of the sea. Easy and free of charge.

Open Studio can be arranged or other public presentations. We have a small forest area by the residency for Site Specific work.

Application: [email protected] 

Artist, cofounder & director Renja Leino is answering your emails. Add following:

• A brief, freely formulated working idea / motivation letter, why you want to come to Korpo.
• Your WWW  (or Low Res PDF of recent works, exhibitions views)
• CV /BIO  (incl. nationality, year of birth, gender,  home address)
• TIMETABLE: add clearly when do you wish to come. We work on a full calendar month 1^st to last day of the month. We prefer longer stays but even 2 weeks are possible depending on timing. You can arrive any suitable day we agree in beforehand.

SPACE:

AARK has 4 Studio Apartments all with wireless internet and kitchens/ wc//shower. Easily suitable for individual working or a duo or a group. All equipped for normal living. You just take with you your tools. We have some tripods, projector, bicycles, a small car. Sauna in the house.

Sea Studio apartment 2^nd floor is 72m2 with 2 separate bedrooms, shared kitchen and living room/studio, wooden floor. Suitable for 2 artists to share or a family. Sea view.

Single Studio aery space, kitchen shower/wc. Its airy 54m2 with wooden floor that is perfect for a more private studio bedroom and living space 3^rd floor. Windows to North sea view and West.

Retro Studio 54m2 with separate bedroom, studio-living room, kitchen, wc/shower. View south, west on the yard.

Garden Studio & terrace is mostly used for our artist meetings, Open Studios. Can be shared with 1-2 artist / in 1 bedroom.

30m2 ruff Studio space for whatever use in the basement, warm but no window. Nice to work in summertime with open doors, even used for artist meetings, open studios gallery.

FEE paid by the artist:

490€ /month / person paid by the artist in the shared apartment.

590€ Single Studio for 1 + 200€ if a duo.

540€ Retro Studio for 1 + 200€ if a duo

Artist families are welcome!

Children are welcome.

Visitors only by agreement and only short visits. Fee.

AARK is supported by

Korpo Sparbanksstiftelse

A travel and liability insurance is obligatory.

Happy New Year 2020!

Applications any time: info (at) aark.fi 

Residency is for all professional artists in all contemporary practices, art related professions, researchers - even in marine biology. 

Add your CV / Bio and www and a short motivation letter. Timetable, when do you wish to come. 1-3 months, even 2 weeks residency might be possible depending on timing.