The places where Reidar Särestöniemi lived and worked, and a collection of 500 artworks.
REIDAR SÄRESTÖNIEMI (1925-1981) is one of Finland's best known artists and is considered the most remarkable Lappish painter of his time. These days, art enthusiasts can find his artworks on display at the Särestöniemi Museum. Located about 10 km from Kaukonen, the museum displays the artist's works and features the environment that he grew up and worked in.
The museum consists of several buildings directly related to Reidar Särestöniemi. These include his 19th-century family farm, which represents the traditional way of building in Northern Finland, and his gallery and studio – both designed in the 1970s by acclaimed Finnish architects Reima and Raili Pietilä.
"The museum is unique in that it tells the story of Reidar Särestöniemi from his birth to his death," explains museum director Anne Koskamo. "Visitors can see where he was born, where he worked and where he lived most of his life, apart from the time that he studied in Helsinki and Leningrad. Once you have seen the place where his paintings were made and his inspiration came from, you gain a better insight into his work. Moreover, you will also learn more about the old Lappish ways of life and about the culture of Lapland."
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Särestöniemi Museum |
A closer look at Särestöniemi's work
The museum is maintained by the Reidar Särestöniemi Museum Foundation and is home to a collection of approximately 500 works. The majority of these are oils on canvas or watercolours, as well as woodcuts and etchings.
Drawings, sketches and sketchbooks also form part of the collection, which is presented to the public according to various themes that change once or twice a year. "Art works by Särestöniemi can be seen in what used to be his gallery and studio," continues Koskamo. "At the moment, the gallery hosts The Cycle of the Year Through Reidar's Eyes. With it, people can observe and reflect on how the year changed, all through Särestöniemi's eyes."
While the museum has more exciting exhibitions and special events scheduled for this autumn, there is much anticipation for the upcoming year. This is because Reidar Särestöniemi would have been 90 years old in 2015, and at the same time the museum will celebrate its 30th anniversary.
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YANNICK ILUNGA
HELSINKI TIMES
HELI TUHKANEN / SÄRESTÖNIEMI MUSEUM
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