J. Toarie Strandman

J. Toarie Strandman is a Helsinki-based multidisciplinary artist. Their art floats in time and space, searching for utopias from their ancient Karelian background to the subterranean lakes of the moons of Neptune. It combines bio- and textile art into biodegradable sculptures and installations, that are inspired by biotechnology, sci-fi, occultism, queerness of nature and ecofeminism. Slow ancient handcraft practice, such as crocheting and weaving intertwine with algae- and fungi- based materials, creating their own ecosystems. The art pieces form queer solar punk utopias, alien entities hanging in their nests, dreaming of post human societies. The repurposing of recycled materials creates layers and the previous lives and memories of the materials are transferred into the art pieces. Strandman has had solo exhibitions in Finland and Norway and participated in many group exhibitions, such as Nuoret2023 in Helsinki Kunsthalle.

 

Image: They are monitoring through their third eyelids, 2024. Photo: Sakari Tervo