In the fall of 2026, Kajaani Art Museum presents the BelovedFibre exhibition by three artists Riikka Keränen, Heidi Kilpeläinen and Mayumi Niiranen-Hisatomi. The BelovedFibre exhibition invites us to get acquainted with the diversity of fibre.
Fibres have been interwoven into human history for tens of thousands of years. Through the ages, people have knitted, woven and shaped beauty, stories, history, hopes and prayers. Making things with our own two hands is still important to us today, and different fibres are stitched into the fabric of our lives every day.
The artists are reflecting on what fibres are from various points of view, what do fibres mean to us, and where do they show up in our daily lives.
The materials of the exhibition include various fibres, textiles, cultural traditions, and personal histories. The works are made with versatile techniques, and each artist has their own approach, but the artists share an appreciation for and utilization of handmade, inherited and found textile treasures, as well as natural materials.
The three-dimensional works by Riikka Keränen are constructed of found fibres either supplying the main material of the works, or acting as an invisible force that holds the works together. Heidi Kilpeläinen uses autobiographic memories and her parents’ old clothing as her materials. Kajaani Art Museum’s history as a former police station creates a unique setting for examining Kilpeläinen’s personal history, because her sole provider father was a police officer. Mayumi Niiranen-Hisatomi utilizes both traditional and contemporary modes such as knitting, weaving, and Eco printing in combination with painting, installation and textile art techniques.
The exhibition is on display at the Kajaani Art Museum until January 9, 2027. The exhibition received support from the Finnish Heritage Agency’s state grant.
