P A R A S E N S E

Curating of F2F: New Media Art from Finland exhibition in the U.S., Canada and Belgium

ROLE: AV Consulting, Curating, in collaboration with Bryn Jayes for Finnish Foreign Ministry.

THE PROJECT: F2F New Media Art from Finland is an international arts event with venues in major North American cities and Europe throughout 2000-2003.

F2F (Internet acronym for face to face communication) consists of screenings, exhibitions and media art events; collaborations through the Internet; lectures, discussion forums and work shops; as well as artist-in-residence exchanges.

The focal point of F2F is a traveling exhibition presenting works by contemporary media artists. All participating artists are from Finland, a pioneer nation in digital and wireless communications with a rich heritage in design and the arts.

The interactive installations of F2F combine the most innovative uses of new technology with a sincere, yet playful consideration for human sensitivities in the age of technology. The artists have experimented with such advanced technical solutions as motion sensors and custom made electronics and software. The exhibition explores three specific themes – the border between digital and analog expression; social interaction in the digital era; and new digital worlds.

The official opening of the exhibition took place in Los Angeles, UCLA New Wight Center in September 2000. The exhibition tour also included Washington DC at the Embassy of Finland in February 2001, at Art Gallery of Ontario, Design Exchange and Interaccess Gallery in Toronto in October 2001, Montreal at Saidye Bronfman Gallery in April 2002 and New York at Parsons Gallery on 5th Avenue in December 2002. The F2F Tour was so successful that it has been asked by iMal organization´s Yves Bernard to exhibit also in Brussels, Belgium in 2003.

The original North American tour of F2F: New Media Art from Finland was made possible by Sonera, Unisys and William and Gloria Jackson. Additional funding was provided by Apple Finland, the Arts Council of Finland, DPS Inc. and Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Finland.

Exhibition design by Ilkka Suppanen.

List of international Press/Media coverage in the end of this page:

Images from the exhibition:

Hanna Haaslahti: Battle over Indifferent Minds

Laura Beloff: Hame

Kristian Simolin: Hit2Morrow

Juha Huuskonen: Mirror++

Tuomo Tammenpää: NeedWeb

Tuomo Tammenpää: Brandbody

Heidi Tikka: Mother and Child

Hanna Haaslahti: White Square

Marita Liulia: S.O.B.

F2F IN MEDIA:

Press/ in English

  • Form Function Finland, 3-4/2000
  • UCLA Daily Bruin, Sep. 29, 2000
  • F2F exhibition as LAWeekly´s “Pick of the Week” by art critic Peter Frank, Sep. 29, 2000 and Nov. 16, 2000
  • Performing Arts Magazine, Fall Issue 2000
  • Washington Post, Design Section, an article by Linda Hales: “Finnish Exhibit Puts You in the Virtual Art”, by Feb. 9, 2001
  • New York Times, by Linda Hales, article on F2F exhibition “The Fire Beneath the Ice: Nordic Design Takes a Tour”, on April 17th, 2001
  • Sculpture Magazine, July – August 2001
  • Toronto Star, Oct. 17, 2001
  • Montreal Mirror Apr. 2002
  • Hour, Apr. 25, 2002
  • the Gazette, Montreal, May 4, 2002
  • the Finnish Update / Amerikan Uutiset
  • F2F article in Artbyte by Rhizome, November-December 2002 edition

Press/ in French

  • Liberation 16.11.2001
  • Ici, Vivre á Montreal 18.4.2002
  • Le Devoir, 4.5.2002

Press/ in Finnish

  • Taide -lehti 5/00
  • Helsingin Sanomat, 7.9.2000
  • Kaleva/STT, 16.9.2000
  • Keskisuomalainen, 17.9.2000
  • Turun Sanomat, 26.9.2000
  • Suomen Kuvalehti 45 /10.11.2000
  • Muoto -lehti, 1.01
  • Helsingin Sanomat, 17.2.2001
  • Helsingin Sanomat, 17.9.2001

Press/ in Swedish

  • Hufvudstadsbladet 5.3.2001

Radio / USA

Radio/ Canada

  • Montreal University radio 18.4.2002

Radio/ Finland

  • Radio Keski-Suomi 20.9.2000

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