MIA & TARJA by Mia Maljojoki and Tarja Tuupanen

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Mia Maljojoki, Tarja Tuupanen

About series Aino - the Moonwalker by Mia Maljojoki
In this series, I have been researching the movements of the moon. Last year I spent the month of May in Koli, in the national park in North-Karelia, Finland. During this month I was gazing towards the sky, to the nature up there and observing the effects moon gives with its constant movement around the sun.
Moon contains all layers of experiences from the fullest and brightest to the hidden and dark. Is the bright side only bright or do light and dark always exist together? Could light exist without darkness? To me seems that they always exist together in nature and within us. In these pendants, I choose to bring the joy up and stay on the bright side of the moon.
Moon is a feminine symbol and we women are connected to its lunar cycles.
The name Aino, meaning "the only one", in the title, was invented by Elias Lönnrot who composed the Kalevala. In the original poems, she was mentioned as "the only daughter" or "the only sister”. (Wikipedia)

> Website of Mia Maljojoki


About Tarja Tuupanen's work
Tuupanen's jewellery is always connected with stone and in the latest works, the theme is the ornament.
Inspired by decorative household objects found from secondhand markets, made from marble or alabaster, Tuupanen has begun to study the theme of ornament. These objects form a visual background at the studio, a pile of things that are a bit outdated but not antique. The decoration and ornaments in them are sometimes well-made, sometimes hastily done in souvenir style, but always appealing. In past times for craft makers, an ornament in artifact was an act of finesse, or the ornament has been used to cover the mistakes in industrial production. What it could be for an artist today?
For Tuupanen ornament is alluring and forbidden. She studies this topic in the series of necklaces made mainly from black marble. The grayish color gives a smooth background for the ornamental forms, the soft material gives pleasure in technical making. Remaking and repetition are elementary for the topic and in the process. The decoration lies heavily on the body or escapes to be a sculptural object.

> Website of Tarja Tuupanen