HB381 presents Voyage, a solo exhibition of new works by Marianne Huotari (Finnish, b. 1986). Huotari's meticulously beaded sculptures and wall tapestries reimagine traditional Finnish rya textiles. Through a care-intensive process of craftsmanship, Huotari sculpts hundreds of oblong ceramic beads and petals by hand before sewing them onto a metal armature with wire. The beads layer and bubble at will, similar to the woven knots in ryijy. Her color palate mimics that of the original woolen fibers; creams and light greens alongside pinks and muted blues populate her tapestries and free-standing sculptures.
Huotari’s measured hands-on process allows her to decelerate the rapidity of daily life and find a meditative rhythm in the act of creation. She approaches each item she creates with tenderness, whether it be a bead passing through her fingers or a wall hanging requiring countless hours of stitching. As a result, her final forms exude a warmth and sensation of delight.