Katja Juhola presents a series of large-format works that invite contemplation of the ancient, culturally resonant forests of northwestern Finland. These are not mere landscapes; they are portals to a hidden dimension – the vital, subterranean network of mycorrhizal fungi and symbiotic life forms that bind the forest into a sentient community. This intricate web, often invisible to the human eye, becomes the central metaphor and visual revelation within these evocative works.
The artworks originate from places of profound significance: protected forest areas in northwestern Finland, historically used as summer pastures for livestock. These are landscapes layered by centuries of subtle human-nature interaction, places the artist has long experienced as realms of deep, almost sacred, magic. This essence is captured and reconstructed through a meticulously developed, multi-layered artistic process that mirrors the stratified complexity of the forest itself:
Painted Earth: The journey begins on canvas with a foundational layer of acrylic paint. This establishes the atmosphere – the filtered light, deep shadows, rich earthy tones of the soil, and a sense of ancient stillness.
Etched Memory (Translucent Veils): Over this painted background, delicate photographic prints on thin cotton are carefully applied. Sourced directly from the artist's cherished Finnish woodlands, these prints capture intimate fragments of reality: the intricate texture of bark, the velvety softness of moss, the gnarled strength of roots, the ethereal play of sunlight filtering through leaves. The transparency of the cotton allows the underlying painted layer to emerge and interact with the photographic image. This creates a dynamic dialogue between the artist's hand and the captured forest, a visual metaphor for the interwoven layers of perception, memory, and reality.
Veils of Colour (Synthesis): Further layers of acrylic and oil paint are then applied. Translucent glazes and textured brushstrokes intertwine the photographic elements with the painted base, dissolving sharp boundaries. Representation merges with abstraction; the documentary detail of photography unites with the emotional expression of brushwork, echoing the natural fusion of the tangible and the mysterious that characterises the forest.
Revelation in Light (The Awakening of the Hidden Network): The final layer incorporates UV-reactive paint. Under specific ultraviolet (blue) light, this layer undergoes a magical transformation. Luminescent forms emerge – glowing threads, radiant nodes, hidden textures – making visible the mycorrhizal networks and the vibrant energy of the forest's interconnected life. This spectacular metamorphosis embodies the heart of the exhibition: the revelation of the vital, invisible connections that sustain the whole.
Each work is framed in one of three distinct tones of green fabric, a choice that consciously roots the pieces in the organic palette of their subject, reinforcing the feeling that the forest extends to embrace the viewer.
This body of work transcends traditional landscape painting, firmly placing itself within critical discourses on Posthumanism and the Anthropocene. Inspired by the mycorrhizal network – a form of decentralised, collaborative, and ancient intelligence that precedes and sustains human existence – Katja Juhola deliberately challenges anthropocentric views. The forest is not presented as a passive resource or picturesque backdrop, but as an active, complex, and deeply interconnected community. Humans are positioned as participants in this network, not its masters.
Curated by Enrica Benedetto
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