Gardens and Shelters by Helena Lehtinen and Eija Mustonen. Part of the 2nd Lisbon Contemporary Jewellery Biennial 2024

Artist list

Helena Lehtinen, Eija Mustonen

Opening: 26th June at 18.00 h.
Opening hours: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 11 am to 1 pm and from 2 pm to 7 pm.
Wednesdays from 2 pm to 7 pm.

Helena's statement:
Helena Lehtinen uses vintage textiles as a starting point for her pieces. She combines several cross-stitch elements, mostly flower motifs, to create big necklaces or brooches. Ornaments are highlighted with numerous glass beads sewn by hand. With these works, she also wants to point out the invisible work of women’s handcraft. They have used the hours to create something beautiful to decorate their homes. Kitsch? Yes. But important is the time which has been used—the time for yourself.

Eija's statement:
We need protection from heat, cold, dirt, shocks, and eyes. We need protection when working in the garden, thinning the forest, tilling the soil, working on a building site, cooking in the kitchen, fighting, being in the sun, in heavy rain, and meeting others. The hammered and folded metal works can be seen as part of the body clothing, such as sleeves and skirts, or as a protective part of the body. The atmosphere of these works is a mixture of the historical and the contemporary.