Mysterious moss giants take over Lasipalatsi Square – Amos Rex’s exhibition invites us to ask questions and dream fearlessly like children
A green moss giant with skis and poles has arrived at Amos Rex’s domes, ready to explore unfamiliar terrain. Wanderer sees the world as being best explored by travelling, but also with the sense of touch – especially the touch of the hand. That may be why the giant is moving two fingers across the palm of his other hand, forming the sign that means to walk or to wander.
Wanderer is one of four bright-green, giant-like figures who have temporarily set up camp in the courtyard at Lasipalatsi Square and on the terrace of Bio Rex. Kim Simonsson’s (b. 1974) are about four metres high and communicate with each other through Finnish sign language. They have been acquired for Konstsamfundet, which has one of Finland’s most extensive private art collections.
Kim Simonsson is available for on-site interviews in Helsinki on 22–26 April.
The moss giants’ long journey home passes through the centre of Helsinki
The giants – Wanderer, Collector, Friendship and Bringer of Light – are on their way home to the forest. During the summer, they will take a break at Lasipalatsi Square, after which they will gradually continue to their final destination: a leafy forest glade at Amos Anderson’s summer residence, Söderlångvik manor on Kimito Island. There they will stay permanently, gradually becoming part of the forest ecosystem.
“I had a vision of a large moss figure in the forest, so people would accidentally meet a friendly giant in the woods. That dream will now become a reality, with the four giants moving to a forest glade at Söderlångvik,” Simonsson says.
The moss giants will be discoverable in the forest at Söderlångvik from spring 2025 onwards.
Simonsson describes his giants as utopian moss children. He has given each individual in the group their own specific task, with each task being equally important. One carries tools, while another has skis on his back. It is also worth paying attention to the moss giants’ hands, which play an important role: they communicate with each other, and with the outside world in sign language.
Sculptor Kim Simonsson lives and works in the artists’ village of Fiskars in Western Uusimaa. He has been working with ceramic moss figures for almost a decade – the moss giants are his most large-scale works so far.
The Moss Giants will be at Lasipalatsi Square 29 April–20 October 2024. The exhibition is curated by Kai Kartio.
Sign language is for everyone
Sign language is a visual language used by deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing people. It consists of various signs, combining facial expressions, hand body and mouth movements. Two different sign languages are used in Finland: Finland-Swedish and Finnish Sign Language, which is also used by Kim Simonsson’s Moss Giants.
Spring exhibitions
Amos Rex’s Spring exhibitions offer experiences for our emotions and all of our senses – the first-ever collections exhibition I feel, for now and Josefina Nelimarkka’s studio exhibition The Cloud of Un/knowing. The exhibitions are open 27 March – 8 Sept 2024.
Contacts
Iiris MattssonCommunications SpecialistAmos Rex
Tel:+358 (0)50 302 2260iiris.mattsson@amosrex.fiImages
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Latest releases from Amos Rex
Harold Hejazi vald till ordförande för juryn för Generation 2026-utställningen23.5.2024 13:02:21 EEST | Tiedote
Kanadensiske konstnären och speldesignern Harold Hejazi har kallats till ordförande för juryn för grupputställningen Generation 2026. För den tvärkonstnärliga utställningen söks verk från många olika konstarter, och Hejazi berikar juryn med sin expertis inom deltagande performancekonst, spelkonst och samhälleligt engagemang med konstnärliga medel. Amos Rex Generation-utställning hålls vart tredje år och visar upp ett brett urval av verk från konstnärer i åldern 15–23 år. Verken väljs till utställningen av en jury utifrån en öppen ansökan. Utlysningen till grupputställningen öppnar den 1 oktober 2024.
Generation 2026 -näyttelyn juryn puheenjohtajaksi on valittu Harold Hejazi23.5.2024 13:02:21 EEST | Tiedote
Generation 2026 -juryn puheenjohtajaksi on kutsuttu kanadalainen taiteilija ja pelisuunnittelija Harold Hejazi. Näyttelyyn haetaan teoksia eri taiteen aloilta ja Hejazi tuo tuomaristoon monipuolista osaamista osallistavasta esitystaiteesta, pelitaiteesta sekä sosiaalisesta vaikuttamisesta taiteen keinoin. Generation-triennaali on joka kolmas vuosi pidettävä Amos Rexin näyttely, joka esittelee laajan kattauksen teoksia 15–23-vuotiailta taiteilijoilta. Näyttelyyn on avoin haku, ja näyttelyyn tulevat teokset valitsee jury. Näyttelyn teoshaku alkaa 1.10.2024.
Harold Hejazi to chair Generation 2026 exhibition jury23.5.2024 13:02:21 EEST | Press release
Canadian artist and game designer Harold Hejazi has been invited to chair the selection jury for the Generation 2026 exhibition. The multidisciplinary exhibition will feature works from various fields of art, with Hejazi bringing to the jury his diverse expertise in participatory performing arts, game art, and social impact through art. Amos Rex’ Generation is a triennially held group exhibition that features a broad selection of works by artists between the ages 15 and 23. The works are chosen by a jury from open-call submissions. The application period opens on 1 October 2024.
Enorma mossjättar väcker stort intresse på Amos Rex bakgård – Kim Simonssons utställning öppnar idag 29.4.202429.4.2024 11:46:04 EEST | Tiedote
Kim Simonssons (f. 1974) utställning Mossjättar öppnar idag, måndagen den 29.4.2024, passligt inför första maj och återinvigningen av Glaspalatstorget. Mossjättarna har väckt stort intresse bland både stadens invånare och turister under installationen.
Valtavat sammaljätit herättävät kiinnostusta Amos Rexin takapihalla – Kim Simonssonin Sammaljätit -näyttely aukeaa tänään 29.4.202429.4.2024 11:46:04 EEST | Tiedote
Salaperäiset sammaljätit valtaavat Lasipalatsin aukion – Kim Simonssonin (s. 1974) näyttely aukeaa tänään maanantaina 29.4.2024 sopivasti vapuksi ja Lasipalatsin aukion uudelleenavajaisiin. Sammaljätit ovat herättäneet jo installoinnin aikana valtavasti kiinnostusta sekä kaupunkilaissa että turisteissa.
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