Exhibition of Art in public Space, Helsinki June 11 - July, 2004.
Opening of the exhibition in MUU gallery is thursday June 10, 2004 at 5-7 pm. Welcome!

DIRECT EXPOSURE
Direct Exposure brings together a group of young contemporary artists originating from different parts of Europe. The connecting feature of the participating artists is an adventurous and innovative approach to public space as the scene and inspiration for artistic practice. The curator of the event is Otto Karvonen.

ART IN PUBLIC SPACE
Artists have recently adopted a more active role in the public discussion by bringing out important issues with their work and creating new communicative spaces around them. The role of the artist has been shifting from an observer and commentator into an active participant and catalysator in the social networks of society. When art integrates in the public discourse, it becomes political by nature. The political aspect is more often found in the encounter of art and public in the physical and socio-political framework of the site. It is contained in action, reaction and interaction that the work stimulates in the surroundings.

PARTICIPANTS
Marc Bijl (The Netherlands)
Helmut Dick (Germany)
Sagi Groner (Israel)
Otto Karvonen (Finland)
Karen Lancel (The Netherlands)
Dafna Moscati (Italy/Israel)
Matthias Schamp (Germany)
The Blackroom Act (Finland)

PROGRAMME
The event consists of artworks ranging from sculpture and performance to video and sound works operating with the elements of surprise, humour, dialogue and interaction. Helmut Dikc's Rising Dog appears among the city traffic. Karen lancel's Agora Phobia Digitalis offers a shelter withing public space, where people can have an on-line internet dialoguewith someone living in isolation (physical or mental). Spreading across the cityscape of Helsinki and occupying the MUU-gallery for the duration of one month, Direct Exposure will provide an updated perspective to contemporary art dealing with public space.Helsinki Cultural Office, Arts council of Finland, Ministry of Education, The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Goethe Institute, Academy of Fine Arts, Radio Helsinki, Like Publishing Ltd and Voima Magasine.

FURTHER IN COOPERATION INFORMATION
Susanna Okker, Producer of the Exhibition
Tel. 045 670 2023
susanna.okker@humak.edu
MUU gallery/ Timo Soppela tel. 09-625 972
www.directexposure.net, www.muu.fi
Exhibition and information centre of the event will be at MUU gallery 11.6.-11.7.2004 email:muu@muu.fi

IN COOPERATION
Helsinki Cultural Office, Arts Council of Finland, Ministry of Education, The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Goethe Institute, Academy of Fine Arts, Radio Helsinki, Like Publishing Ltd and Voima Magasine