Timo Tuhkanen

Sometimes, ceramics causes goosebumps. At first sight, the long spirals Timo Tuhkanen made at EKWC look nice but unassuming. It must have taken a special twist to coil them so evenly, and it clearly demanded care to let them dry without deformation, handle them without breaking. The spirals are photogenic, alone or together they look pretty from various angles; a white porcelain version contrasts beautifully with plants and flowers. But none of that prepares you for the sound work Tuhkanen performs with them. Suddenly, you see this stiff material bend like flexible metal, bouncing, vibrating, resonating with its surroundings. It’s a completely counter-intuitive experience. An arched spiral eerily ‘sings’ as the artist drags it across the floor in a fluent, dancing motion, intimately aware of the material’s limits and possibilities. Tuhkanen carefully tested the kN/m2 the spiral can withstand – and still it defies the laws of science.