Building a bridge between past and future generations: This is what the Sami artist Outi Pieski wants to contribute to with her works. Many of her paintings and installations incorporate elements of duodji, the Sami artisan craft. Traditionally, tree bark, reindeer antlers, leather, stone, metal and other natural products are used to make clothing, tools and decorative objects. Since the 1950s, the tradition has been increasingly watered down as non-Sami have also been producing and selling items in the Duodji style due to the great demand from tourists. In addition to her artistic work, Pieski also campaigns for the rights of the Sami people. This in turn inspires her creative work and strengthens her desire to show the original relationships between humans, animals and nature. The exhibition of the same name at Tate St Ives is the largest show of Pieski's work in the UK to date. She will also be contributing a special performance to the opening on February 10. The exhibition will be on display until May 6.
Outi Pieski (*1973) was born in Helsinki to a Sami father and a Finnish mother. She completed her art degree in painting there in 2000 and subsequently exhibited in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Canada, the USA and England. Pieski lives and works in the municipality of Utsjoki in the far north of Finland on the border with Norway.
