The Opening speech
Ladies and gentlemen,
Welcome to the opening of ZOOM IN, an art exhibition by Melania-Elisabeta Hangan from Romania. My name is Carola Harmaakivi, and I represent KulturÖsterbotten, the host organization of Ateljé Stundars, our artist residence in Stundars, Korsholm.
Melania is our current guest artist at Stundars. She arrived in April with the desire to understand Stundars – and Ostrobothnia and Finland and, well, us as a matter of fact – and our habits. She therefore decided to ZOOM IN into the specific character of the place.
This splendid exhibition is about our Finnish traditions as Melania has seen them. The exhibition carries four themes: the interior, the exterior, our food and the sauna. Each theme has been given a thorough inspection.
Melania arrived here in April and she has, as you can see, been very productive indeed. Her talent and ambition combined with a sensitive awareness of her surroundings is, I dare say, something quite unique. And we, we are of course very lucky to have her. Melania is definitely going places, as an artist.
Ateljé Stundars is not Melania’s first contact with Finland. She has spent a winter in Nykarleby, at the Novia University of Applied Sciences. If she hadn’t, I’d say it was downright scary the way she, in only three months, has managed to grasp the innermost core of our soul. Her paintings simply speak our language.
I hereby declare the exhibition opened. ZOOM IN, folks!
by Carola Harmaakivi
by Carola Harmaakivi
