{"id":522,"date":"2013-06-21T17:06:09","date_gmt":"2013-06-21T14:06:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mesenaatti-cms.karolina.io\/?p=522"},"modified":"2015-02-13T19:48:30","modified_gmt":"2015-02-13T17:48:30","slug":"amoussou-art-more-than-fire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mesenaatti-cms-2026.karolina.io\/en\/amoussou-art-more-than-fire\/","title":{"rendered":"Amoussou-Art: More Than Fire"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"#en\">For English please scroll page down<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Leea Pienim\u00e4ki-Amoussou &amp; Victor Amoussou<\/p>\n<p>ARVOITUKSIA \u2013<\/p>\n<p>Lasipalatsin N\u00e4yttelytila, Helsinki 4.-28.7.2013<\/p>\n<p>KUNINKAAN LAHJAT \u2013<\/p>\n<p>R\u00f6\u00f6perin Taidesalonki,<br \/>\nHelsinki 10.-28.7.2013<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amoussou-art.com\">www.amoussou-art.com<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Kaksi taiteilijaa, kaksi kulttuuria \u2013 vuorovaikutus molempiin suuntiin<\/h2>\n<p>Olen helsinkil\u00e4inen tekstiilitaiteilija Leea Pienim\u00e4ki-Amoussou. Puolisoni Victor Amoussou on beninil\u00e4inen Beniniss\u00e4 asuva kuvataiteilija. Olemme tehneet taiteellista yhteisty\u00f6t\u00e4 Suomessa ja Beniniss\u00e4 vuodesta 2006. Ty\u00f6t\u00e4mme siivitt\u00e4\u00e4 intensiivinen kulttuurinen vuoropuhelu, jossa vaikutteet siirtyv\u00e4t molempiin suuntiin.<\/p>\n<p>L\u00e4nsi-Afrikassa sijaitseva Benin on animistisen vodoun-uskonnon* syntypaikka, jossa lukemattomat jumaluudet ja henkiolennot, sek\u00e4 monenlaiset kultit ja seremoniat ovat n\u00e4kyv\u00e4 osa arkea yh\u00e4 edelleen. Niist\u00e4 l\u00f6ytyy paljon yht\u00e4l\u00e4isyyksi\u00e4 suomalaiseen mytologiaan, joka on Suomessa uinuvaa kansanperinett\u00e4. Erityisesti Victorin symboliikalla ladatuissa teoksissa kulttuuriset juuret n\u00e4kyv\u00e4t vahvasti.<\/p>\n<p>Afrikassa taiteeseen, taiteen tekemiseen ja taiteesta puhumiseen avautuu uusia n\u00e4k\u00f6kulmia. Kuvia tehdess\u00e4mme haluamme n\u00e4hd\u00e4 visuaalista ulottuvuutta syvemm\u00e4lle: ymm\u00e4rt\u00e4\u00e4 ihmisyytt\u00e4 ja kulttuuria taiteen kautta. Victorin omintakeinen taide- ja el\u00e4m\u00e4nfilosofia palkitsee jokaisen joka syventyy kuuntelemaan karismaattista kertojaa. Taitomme ja tiet\u00e4myksemme t\u00e4ydent\u00e4v\u00e4t toisiaan. Victorin sanoin: &#8220;Together we are more than fire!&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2>Kulttuuritulkkaus<\/h2>\n<p>Uutiskuvat Afrikasta ovat usein karua katseltavaa. Paikan p\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4 asuessa asiat n\u00e4kee ja ymm\u00e4rt\u00e4\u00e4 toisin. Afrikka, afrikkalainen taide ja kulttuurihistoria ovat inspiroineet monia l\u00e4nsimaisen kulttuurin taiteilijoita. Siit\u00e4 huolimatta Suomessa n\u00e4hd\u00e4\u00e4n harvoin afrikkalaista nykytaidetta. Paikallisen el\u00e4m\u00e4ntavan ja tarinoiden, sek\u00e4 Beniniss\u00e4 erityisesti vodoun-uskonnon ymm\u00e4rt\u00e4minen edellytt\u00e4\u00e4 jonkinlaista kielellisen ja kulttuurisen kontekstin avaamista. Taiteellisella yhteisty\u00f6ll\u00e4mme rakennamme ymm\u00e4rryksen siltaa kahden kulttuurin v\u00e4lille toimimalla kulttuuritulkkeina toisillemme ja yleis\u00f6llemme. Haluamme murtaa ennakkoluuloja, kumota kliseit\u00e4 ja synnytt\u00e4\u00e4 aitoa vuorovaikutusta vieraaseen kulttuuriin henkil\u00f6kohtaisen el\u00e4myksen kautta. Olemme tavattavissa gallerioissa n\u00e4yttelyiden aikana sopimuksen mukaan.<\/p>\n<h2>N\u00e4yttelymme<\/h2>\n<p>Taiteellinen tuotantomme on runsasta ja monialaista, joten meill\u00e4 on t\u00e4n\u00e4 kes\u00e4n\u00e4 l\u00e4hes samaan aikaan kaksi n\u00e4yttely\u00e4 Helsingiss\u00e4:<\/p>\n<p>Lasipalatsin ARVOITUKSIA-n\u00e4yttelyyn (4.-28.7.2013) tulee kuvataidepainotteinen ripustus, mm. sekatekniikkamaalauksia ja suuria vahabatiikkitekniikalla toteutettuja maalauksia.<\/p>\n<p>R\u00f6\u00f6perin Taidesalonki on sponsoroinut toimintaamme useita vuosia. Punavuoren sympaattiseen monitoimigalleriaan tulee t\u00e4n\u00e4 vuonna afrikkalaishenkinen basaari: KUNINKAAN LAHJAT -n\u00e4yttely (10.-28.7.2013), jossa n\u00e4hd\u00e4\u00e4n uniikkikankaitamme ja niist\u00e4 ompelemiani tuotteita, sek\u00e4 pieni\u00e4 batiikkimaalauksia, Victorin T-paitoja ja molempien tekemi\u00e4 koruja. Katso esittelyvideomme!<\/p>\n<h2>Miksi haemme Mesenaatti-rahoitusta?<\/h2>\n<p>Hankkeen kokonaisbudjetti on 5800\u20ac:<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Lasipalatsin galleriavuokra 2600\u20ac<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Victor Amoussoun matkakulut (lentolippu, viisumi ja matkavakuutus) yhteens\u00e4 1500\u20ac<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; materiaalikulut 1000\u20ac<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; ALV 10% taideteosten myyntihinnasta (sis\u00e4ltyy verkkokaupan hintoihin)<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Mesenaatti-palvelun kulut 7% saadusta rahoituksesta<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Holvi-palvelun kulut (maksuista 0,90\u20ac \/kpl, luottokorttimaksuista 3% maksusummasta)<\/p>\n<p>Olemme saaneet Taiteen edist\u00e4miskeskuksen apurahana 2000 euroa, joten Mesenaatti-rahoituksessa tavoitteemme on 3800 euroa. Teokset olemme tehneet omalla kustannuksella. Mesenaatti-palvelun minimirahoituksen tulee olla 1000 euroa. Jos se ei t\u00e4yty, jo maksetut rahat palautetaan mesenaateille. Jos rahoitus ylt\u00e4\u00e4 3800 euroon (josta v\u00e4hennet\u00e4\u00e4n palvelun kulut) saamme kokoon galleriavuokran, sek\u00e4 korvauksen materiaali- ja matkakuluista. Jos rahoitusta tulee enemm\u00e4n kuin maksimitavoitteeksi ilmoitettu 3800 euroa, saamme palkkaa tehdyst\u00e4 ty\u00f6st\u00e4. N\u00e4yttelyprojektista selviytyminen ilman velkaa antaa meille mahdollisuuden keskitty\u00e4 uuden luomiseen ja tuleviin projekteihin. Tule mukaan siivitt\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n taiteemme uusiin ulottuvuuksiin!<\/p>\n<p>Jos et l\u00f6yd\u00e4 vastikkeista mieluista, kerro mit\u00e4 haluaisit osoitteeseen pienimaki.amoussou(at)gmail.com ja saatamme lis\u00e4t\u00e4 toiveesi verkkokauppaan.<\/p>\n<p>Nettisivumme: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amoussou-art.com\">www.amoussou-art.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Verkkokauppamme: <a href=\"https:\/\/holvi.com\/shop\/amoussouart\">https:\/\/holvi.com\/shop\/amoussouart<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"small2\">* Vodoun-uskonnosta k\u00e4ytet\u00e4\u00e4n monia nimityksi\u00e4 eri kulttuurialueilla. Vodoun, vodou ja vodun ovat ranskankielisi\u00e4 termej\u00e4, jotka on johdettu paikalliskielist\u00e4 (esim. fon: vod\u00f9n, mina: vod\u00f9). Latinalaisessa Amerikassa on vakiintunut termi Vaudou, englanninkielisiss\u00e4 maissa voodoo. Erotuksena Hollywoodin v\u00e4ritt\u00e4m\u00e4lle voodoo-termille my\u00f6s englanninkielisiss\u00e4 maissa on sovittu k\u00e4ytett\u00e4v\u00e4n ranskankielist\u00e4 vodoun-termi\u00e4, kun uskonnosta puhutaan tieteellisess\u00e4 merkityksess\u00e4. Kieliasujen monimuotoisuutta selitt\u00e4\u00e4 my\u00f6s se, ett\u00e4 monet paikalliset eiv\u00e4t osaa kirjoittaa omaa \u00e4idinkielt\u00e4\u00e4n kolonialismin my\u00f6t\u00e4 alkaneen ranskankielisen kouluopetuksen takia, ja ulkomaiset tutkijat ovat tallentaneet foneettisten kielten kirjoitusasuja oman kielens\u00e4 k\u00e4yt\u00e4nt\u00f6jen mukaan.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"en\" name=\"en\"><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"video\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/65154045?title=0&amp;byline=0&amp;portrait=0&amp;color=97dbe3\" height=\"347\" width=\"616\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<h1>AMOUSSOU-ART: MORE THAN FIRE<\/h1>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<p>Started 20.05.2013<\/p>\n<p>Ends 30.06.2013<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"ingress\">MORE THAN FIRE<\/p>\n<p>Open a door to Africa: make a voyage through art into yourself and the roots of humanity. The Finnish-Beninese artist couple&#8217;s exhibitions are filled with the joy of creating, vibrant colors, fascinating imagery and mysterious stories. This art hooks the eye and the mind.<\/p>\n<p>Open a door to Africa: make a voyage through art into yourself and the roots of humanity. The Finnish-Beninese artist couple&#8217;s exhibitions are filled with the joy of creating, vibrant colors, fascinating imagery and mysterious stories. This art hooks the eye and the mind.<\/p>\n<p>Leea Pienim\u00e4ki-Amoussou &amp; Victor Amoussou<\/p>\n<p>RIDDLES \u2013<\/p>\n<p>Gallery Lasipalatsin N\u00e4yttelytila, Helsinki 4.-28.7.2013<\/p>\n<p>GIFTS OF THE KING \u2013<\/p>\n<p>Gallery R\u00f6\u00f6perin Taidesalonki, Helsinki 10.-28.7.2013<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amoussou-art.com\">www.amoussou-art.com<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Two artists, two cultures \u2013 interaction both ways<\/h2>\n<p>I am Leea Pienim\u00e4ki-Amoussou, a Finnish textile artist from Helsinki, Finland. My spouse Victor Amoussou is a Beninese artist based in Benin. We have been collaborating artistically in Finland and Benin since 2006. An intense cultural dialogue boosts our creativity conveying influences in two directions.<\/p>\n<p>Benin, known as the birth place of animistic vodoun* religion, is located in West-Africa, where countless divinities and spirits, cults and ceremonies are a visible part of everyday life even today. Similarities to Finnish mythology are apparent, but in Finland this kind of perception of life is mostly dormant folklore. The cultural roots show clearly especially in Victor&#8217;s artwork.<\/p>\n<p>In Africa new perspectives open up to art, creating art and talking about art. When making art we want to see beyond the visual dimension: to understand humanity and culture through art. Victor&#8217;s distinctive personal philosophy of art and of life rewards everyone who takes his time to listen to the charismatic narrator. Our skills and knowledge complement each other. In Victor&#8217;s words: &#8220;Together we are more than fire!&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2>Cultural Interpretation<\/h2>\n<p>The news imagery of Africa is often harsh and sad to look at. When living on-site one sees and understands differently. Africa, African art and cultural history have inspired many artists in the Western cultures. Nevertheless, opportunities to see contemporary African art in Finland are rare. The African way of life, the traditions and folktales, as well as understanding the vodoun-religion require opening up some kind of a linguistic and cultural context. With our artistic collaboration we are building a bridge of comprehension between the two cultures by working as cultural interpreters to each other and to our audience. We try to break down prejudices and clich\u00e9s, and wish to create genuine interaction with a foreign culture through personal experiences. During the exhibitions we are available for discussions in the galleries upon request.<\/p>\n<h2>Our Exhibitions<\/h2>\n<p>Our creative production is abundant and diverse, so this summer we will have two exhibitions in Helsinki almost at the same time:<\/p>\n<p>The RIDDLES \u2013 exhibition at Gallery Lasipalatsin N\u00e4yttelytila (4.-28.7.2013) will focus on visual art, presenting mixed media paintings and large batik paintings etc.<\/p>\n<p>Gallery R\u00f6\u00f6perin Taidesalonki has sponsored our work for several years. This year the sympathetic multifunction-gallery will host our GIFTS OF THE KING -exhibition (10.-28.7.2013): an African style bazaar presenting our handmade batik fabrics, wearable art and home furnishings I have sewn, small batik paintings, one-off T-shirts made by Victor and jewelry by both of us. Check out our video presentation!<\/p>\n<h2>Why do we apply for Mesenaatti.me -growdfunding?<\/h2>\n<p>The total budget of our project is 5800 euros:<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Rent of Gallery Lasipalatsin N\u00e4yttelytila 2600 \u20ac<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Victor Amoussou&#8217;s travel expenses (flight ticket, visa and travel insurance) total 1500 \u20ac<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Material costs 1000 \u20ac<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; VAT 10% of all artwork sales (included in all artwork prices)<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Service fee of Mesenaatti.me crowdfunding, 7% of total funding received<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Service fee of Holvi Online Store (0,90 \u20ac \/per transaction, credit cards 3% of total payment)<\/p>\n<p>We received a grant of 2000 euros from the Arts Promotion Centre of Finland, so with Mesenaatti.me -crowdfunding our goal is 3800 euros. The artwork we have created at our own cost. The minimum funding at Mesenaatti.me has to reach 1000 euros, otherwise all funds will be returned to sponsors. If the funding will reach 3800 euros (fees inclusive), we will get together the gallery rent, Victor&#8217;s travel costs and the material costs. If the funding exceeds the maximum goal 3800 euros, we will get paid for the work we have done. Surviving the exhibition project without debt gives us a chance to focus on creating new for future projects. Join our sponsors to boost our art to new dimensions!<\/p>\n<p>If you don&#8217;t find what you would like to get as a supporter-reward, please make a suggestion pienimaki.amoussou(at)gmail.com and we may add it to the store.<\/p>\n<p>Our website: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amoussou-art.com\">www.amoussou-art.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Our online store: <a href=\"https:\/\/holvi.com\/shop\/amoussouart\/\">https:\/\/holvi.com\/shop\/amoussouart\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"small2\">* The animistic vodoun-religion is referred to by many terms in different cultural regions. Vodoun, vodou and vodun are French terms deriving from local languages (i.e. fon: vod\u00f9n, mina: vod\u00f9). The English-speaking Occident has established the term voodoo, whereas vaudou is common in Latin America. To distinguish the original religion from the term colored by Hollywood, the French term vodoun has been agreed to be used also in English communication when the religion is referred to in a scientific sense. The diversity of wording is explained also by the fact that even today many Africans don&#8217;t know how to write their own mother tongue because of the French school system executed by the colonists, and foreign researchers have documented spelling the local phonetic languages by conventions of their own languages.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For English please scroll page down Leea Pienim\u00e4ki-Amoussou &amp; Victor Amoussou ARVOITUKSIA \u2013 Lasipalatsin N\u00e4yttelytila, Helsinki 4.-28.7.2013 KUNINKAAN LAHJAT \u2013 R\u00f6\u00f6perin Taidesalonki, Helsinki 10.-28.7.2013 www.amoussou-art.com Kaksi taiteilijaa, kaksi kulttuuria \u2013 vuorovaikutus molempiin suuntiin Olen helsinkil\u00e4inen tekstiilitaiteilija Leea Pienim\u00e4ki-Amoussou. Puolisoni Victor Amoussou on beninil\u00e4inen Beniniss\u00e4 asuva kuvataiteilija. Olemme tehneet taiteellista yhteisty\u00f6t\u00e4 Suomessa ja Beniniss\u00e4 vuodesta 2006. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":43,"featured_media":524,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":0,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1252,378],"tags":[126,125,129,122,130,127,35,128,124,123,131],"class_list":["post-522","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kuvataide-kulttuuri-2","category-kulttuuri-2","tag-afrikka","tag-benin","tag-helsinki","tag-leea-pienimaki-amoussou","tag-monikulttuurinen","tag-suomi","tag-taide-2","tag-taidenayttely","tag-vahabatiikki","tag-victor-amoussou","tag-yhteistyo"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mesenaatti-cms-2026.karolina.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/522","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mesenaatti-cms-2026.karolina.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mesenaatti-cms-2026.karolina.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mesenaatti-cms-2026.karolina.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/43"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mesenaatti-cms-2026.karolina.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=522"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mesenaatti-cms-2026.karolina.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/522\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mesenaatti-cms-2026.karolina.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/524"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mesenaatti-cms-2026.karolina.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=522"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mesenaatti-cms-2026.karolina.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=522"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mesenaatti-cms-2026.karolina.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=522"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}