White Wall | Inni Pärnänen: Marras 7.2.–1.2.2026

“I have been using plywood in my work for some time now. The material comes from the Mahogany factory in Lohja. The owner of the plywood factory is very open to ideas. I asked him if I could come and work at the factory. He arranged a room for me and all the materials I could wish for. What an opportunity!

I travel to the factory by bus and see the change in the landscape over the course of the year. From the bus window, the harsh and long Finnish winter has become more visible to me than usual. The landscape is so gloomy and desolate! The bus travels through the landscape in the dark and the window offers a gloomy view.

The landscape that lingers in my mind also gives a hint to the name of the exhibition; Marras. In the ancient Finnish language, the word describes something dead or dying. In terms of the cycle of nature, withering and dying are central. Surrendering in the face of the new is also significant in my work. In a certain way, you always have to start over. In January, when you are already moving towards the light, it is good to leave the month of marras (i.e. November) behind.

Many thanks to Markku Tamminen for the opportunity, Ilmo Alhberg for technical assistance and the Finnish Cultural Foundation for financial support.”