Jasmin Anoschkin
In this interview with Jasmin Anoschkin, her husband, Severi Haapala serves as the translator for part of the interview\n\nJasmin Anoschkin creates her sculptures entirely by her own hand, whether she is carving wood with a chainsaw or molding clay. Eschewing attempts at technical perfection, she does not hide evidence of these physical processes, embracing uneven surfaces or unexpected glaze effects in her ceramic works. Her whimsical yet poignant characters and the dreamlike world they inhabit suggest an alternative to the rigid and narrow societal standards of what is valued and accepted. Their absolute and unironic sincerity feels almost radical\u2014perhaps even uncomfortable sometimes\u2014provoking reflection not only on the prejudices we hold towards others but on the internalized shame we carry within ourselves. Empowering through the permission it offers, this fantasy universe is an invitation to play and to exist as we are, without inhibition.\n\nEach work that Anoschkin has produced over the course of her career as a sculptor forms a piece to an ongoing story. No linear timeline or cohesive narrative is made apparent to the viewer in this surreal journey; her creatures interact but their relationships remain ambiguous. Yet, the artist allows us glimpses into her inner life through the unique titles she bestows upon each piece. Often humorous and surprising, they imbue the sculptures with distinct personalities and individual histories.\xa0There\u2019s No Italian Man\xa0and\xa0Bunch of Violets\xa0were conceived as a pair, in memory of Anoschkin\u2019s late aunt Terttu, a great supporter of Jasmin\u2019s creativity. When Terttu was younger, there was an Italian man she would visit every summer. Later, when Jasmin would try to inquire about him, she would always snap, \u201cThere\u2019s no Italian man.\u201d\xa0Bunch of Violets\xa0in Finnish is\xa0Terttu Orvokki, a play on her aunt\u2019s name.\xa0Contemporary Stalker\xa0received its title when it emerged from the kiln and Jasmin, an artist for the past twenty years, proclaimed, \u201cOh yes, I have finally made contemporary art!\u201d A recurring motif throughout her practice has been the unicorn, which she has adopted as an avatar both in her sculptural and video works, as seen in this exhibition with\xa0Platinum Yoga Unicorn\xa0and\xa0Golden Menstruation Yoga. Through her unicorn persona, Anoschkin rejoices in herself.\n\nSupercharged Lollipop Valley\xa0marks Jasmin Anoschkin\u2019s second solo presentation in the United States. Her breakthrough artwork in Finland was\xa0Bambi, shown at the M\xe4ntt\xe4 Art Festival in 2009, and again in 2010 at the W\xe4in\xf6 Aaltonen Museum of Art, Turku on the occasion of the 100th Anniversary of the Association of Finnish Sculptors. This piece was subsequently acquired by the Finnish State Art Collection. Anoschkin has been the recipient of numerous awards, grants, and accolades, including being selected as the 2012 young artist in the Satakunta region of Finland, as well as having her work published on a series of postage stamps in 2017. She has exhibited extensively, and is in the collections of numerous institutions such as the Espoo Museum of Modern Art; W\xe4in\xf6 Aaltonen Museum of Art, Turku; H\xe4meenlinna Art Museum; Vantaa Art Museum; L\xf6nnstr\xf6m Art Museum; and Kerava Art Museum. Her work is on permanent display in the lobby of the Helsinki City Museum, and she is currently featured in group exhibitions at the Hvittr\xe4sk Museum, Kirkkonummi, the W\xe4in\xf6 Aaltonen Museum of Art, Turku, and the Espoo Museum of Modern Art. Anoschkin has been a member of the Arabia Art Department Society since 2014.\n\nContemporary Stalker, 2023, glazed stoneware, 43.5" H x 26.5" W x 27" D\n\n\xa0\n\nGolden Menstruation Yoga, 2020, glazed stoneware, 29.5" H x 23.5" W x 16" D\n\n\xa0\n\nAqua Ancestor Frog, 2023, glazed stoneware, 27.5" H x 15.25" W x 21.25\u201d D