65+1 · Sound scape Ääniistä

65+1 Taideteosta Iistä was a sprawling, cross-disciplinary survey of place, practice, and local identity in Ii. Curated by Tuomo Kangasmaa and produced with Jetta Huttunen (Taidekeskus KulttuurKauppila), the exhibition intentionally embraced its expanded architecture: wide walls, high ceilings, and doubled gallery space in the former atelier building.

Rather than isolating media, it layered contemporary works, local history, handmade life, and public collection pieces across four venues — KultuurKauppila Galleria, Ii Church, JS Burger, and Nelospark Kuivaniemi — alongside participatory workshops and seasonal events. The curatorial aim was simple but ambitious: gather as many voices and perspectives as possible, creating a dense, immersive environment where nature, landscape, and human making constantly converse.

During a one-month residency in Ii (March 2025), I was commissioned to create a sound work for the exhibition's main gallery.

Rather than literal documentation, I set out to "paint a picture for the ears": layering resonant frequencies, filtered environmental textures, and slow-moving spatial panning that reflect the quiet gravity of the Iijoki river, seasonal light shifts, and the tactile rhythm of local craft. The piece functioned as an ambient anchor in the gallery — continuous, site-aware, and designed to deepen spatial perception without competing with the visual density around it.

The gallery unfolded as a layered environment where watercolors, oil paintings, sculptural works (from bone and fish skin to textiles), and large-scale installations created a visceral dialogue with sound. Visitors moved through vibrant palettes, encountered animal portraits eye-to-eye, and were invited into region-wide workshops — from handmade puppet making to garden coffee gatherings — extending the exhibition beyond gallery walls.

My soundscape was woven directly into this ecosystem, operating as an unbroken spatial layer that shifted perception of the architecture while leaving room for the visual works to breathe.

• Exhibition: 65+1 Taideteosta Iistä | Dates: June 11 – July 31, 2025
• Hours: Tue–Fri 12–17, Sat 11–16
• Curation: Tuomo Kangasmaa | Production: Jetta Huttunen (Taidekeskus KulttuurKauppila)
• Locations: KultuurKauppila Galleria, Ii Church, JS Burger, Nelospark Kuivaniemi
• Workshops & Events: Huoviskylän kevät, Rakkausnukketyöpaja, Kahvit puutarhassa
• Sound Work & Residency: Basti Kuhz (Artist-in-Residence, March 2025)
• Full documentation & technical breakdowns available upon request. For licensing or collaboration inquiries: bk@bastikuhz.com

Information retrieved from: kulttuurikauppila.fi/news ↗