Mutual Irradiation: Jenny Ollikainen

October First Fridays After Party Performance

Friday, October 5, 2018 | 10-11pm

Free to Attend

In her work, Jenny Ollikainen strives to understand the connections between the role of the dreamer/healer/ mystic and the modern role of the artist. Through the cross-cultural study of mythology and the utilization of archaic dreaming techniques, Ollikainen seeks out the most fundamental aspects of human nature, as well as identifying what facets of culture contribute to the well being of a people and the sustainability of their way of life. This enables Ollikainen to integrate the most beneficial aspects of human expression into her work as a means to provide the viewer with tools to address elements of social or societal disharmony.

Ollikainen’s work often begins with imagery dictated from dreams. From this point, Ollikainen lets intuition guide her selection of materials and the basis for construction. Many of her works are soft sculpture, wherein fabric is sewn into shapes, applied to a frame, and sometimes painted. She uses painting and drawing to aid in creating stories and narratives. Ollikainen also creates pieces comprised largely of found objects such as wood and feathers, which are then adorned. She relates to her pieces as living entities. They exist within a perspective where all objects possess inherent life energy. This gives Ollikainen’s pieces stories and a place in time. It gives them roles in her life and in the evolving body of work that comprises her artistic vision.

More Info: jennyo.squarespace.com

Mutual Irradiation is an interdisciplinary performance and lecture series initiated by Jim Strong exploring the intersection of the arts, spirituality, science and activism.