THE ARTIST OF THE MONTH IN JUNE KIRSI AUTIO
Kirsi Autio (b. 1976) is an artist from Raahe, Finland, with family roots also in South Ostrobothnia. She holds a Master of Culture and Arts (Visual Arts) degree and has worked as a visual artist since 2001. Autio is a member of the Oulu Artists’ Association 63.
Memory and remembrance—particularly collective memory—are central themes in Kirsi Autio’s art. Through her works, she evokes images and associations that may awaken personal memories or reflections on past events in each viewer.
Old fabrics and objects bring their own stories into the artwork: “My works explore roots and the starting points of life upon which personal identity has been built. I combine image-transfer techniques with painting and embroidery, and my works can therefore be classified as textile art. I use recycled materials in my works, and these materials contribute their own stories as part of the piece. As one link in the long chain of women engaged in handicrafts, I participate in this tradition, even though my works do not serve a practical purpose.”