Riitta Päiväläinen's work could be defined as the emotional archaeology
of the ordinary. Using old clothes she finds in secondhand shops and
flea markets, the artist creates installations in landscapes and
photographs them. By soaking the garments in water and placing them
outside in the Finnish winter, for example, tthey freeze solid, filling
out as if someone were wearing them. The garments represent both the
presence and the absence of their former owners.
Finnish photographer Riitta Päiväläinen is a member of the
internationally renowned Helsinki School and is represented by Gallery
TaiK, among others.