The work of American artist Jacob Hashimoto will fill the spacious premises of Wäinö Aaltonen Museum of Art this summer with thousands of kites. This is the first time the artist’s production will be extensively displayed in Finland.

9 June–24 September 2017 Jacob Hashimoto: Giants and Uncertain Atmospheres

Wäinö Aaltonen Museum of Art, wam.fi

Guide tours

  • in Finnish on Sundays at 2 p.m.
  • in Swedish on 18 June, 30 July, 27 August and 24 September at 3 p.m.

Exhibition supplementary programme

  • 10 June at 2 p.m. Meeting with the artist
  • 1–30 July Possibility to construct your own colourful installations at the unguided workshop
  • 17 August Night of the Arts. The museum is open until 11 p.m.
  • 2–3 September Children’s weekend at WAM
  • 17 September WAM’s 50th anniversary on Turku Day.

The exhibition is carried out in cooperation with Galerie Forsblom.

Hashimoto’s works are mainly constructed of minimalistic kite-like elements that the artist repeats and varies in different ways. The result is the formation of rhythmic entities that may also resemble a landscape when glimpsed from afar. The artist is interested in the interfaces between a painting and a sculpture, constructed and natural, and abstract and landscape elements.

Hashimoto constructs installations always with the space in question in mind. The large and light halls of WAM are made for Hashimoto’s extensive three-dimensional works.

The museum’s largest hall, which is over eight metres tall, will have a colossal Gas Giant, with bright-coloured and light parts made out of bamboo and rice paper which will ripple with the air current. The impression is simultaneously massive and light: the work is like a painting into which one can step.

From installations to reliefs and graphics

Jacob Hashimoto’s kite technique reflects his Japanese origins even though content-wise a kite is culturally connected to many things, such as play and freedom.

Visually, the works can be considered as related to the kinetic picture world of early video games comprised of pixels. The form and colour world of the works can also be seen to mirror the artist’s interest in American post-war abstract art.

In addition to the installations, the exhibition will also contain Hashimoto’s relief-like wall works that give the impression of being somewhere between paintings and sculptures. The small-size kite elements tied in them stratify into manifold graphic tapestries. The exhibition will also include graphics and drawings. There will also be new works exhibited for the very first time.

The artist lives and works in New York and also in Verona, Italy.