Finnish photographer Riitta Päiväläinen uses discarded clothing from second-hand shops and flea markets to carry silent, unknown stories and histories. By freezing the garment or letting the wind fill it with air, she is able to create a sculptural space, which reminds her of its former user. Her installations blend seamlessly into their natural settings.
“The unavoidable fact that I will never know the actual story and personal histories connected with the clothes arouses my curiosity,” she says. “The clothes remain silent, withholding their secrets.”
Riitta Päiväläinen is on exhibit through April as part of New Wave Finland: Contemporary Photography from the Helsinki School at Scandinavia House in New York.
Categories: Sculpture, Textile Art
Canadian Art Junkie 
I love the one on the snowfield.
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Reblogged this on artrecent and commented:
Q: what else you can do with discarded clothing?
A: http://mitumBACK.net
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Beautiful and intriguing! Nice photography – gorgeous images even without the clothing, but awesome with it. Very organic – as a lot of clothing is anyway.
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Yes to the organic, a very good point. I can’t decide whether I like the end result (the photos) or the set-up (the creativity of the concept) more. Either way, I’m sold.
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This is a beautiful combination of nature and textile. It’s so beautiful. Do you mind if I put it on my facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/fourthcontinent? It’s roughly a northern focus, but anything that inspires me, like this. =)
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Of course, please share on FB. I think it’s great when people do that. Thanks for letting me know.
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Thank you ArtJunkie for giving me this amazing artwork of Päivinen. Im so intriged by the tree ripping up the layer of grass as a wound on the body. So great to see that art can instantly result into associations.
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That’s such a great observation — the tree and the wound. Thank you for that.
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Impressive. Reminds me a bit of how Anselm Kiefer also used clothing and landscape to suggest memory and history in “Die Ungeborenen” (here’s a decent visual of that work: http://www.google.fr/imgres?hl=fr&sa=X&biw=1366&bih=667&tbm=isch&tbnid=aiGE1GnFm0EdcM:&imgrefurl=http://www.franceculture.fr/image-006-aki-1381-300dpi&docid=UClmx7hNPRuyuM&imgurl=http://www.franceculture.fr/sites/default/files/2012/10/11/4516967/006_AKI_1381_300dpi.jpg&w=5669&h=4492&ei=9yBDUeysOYOThgfO4YCICQ&zoom=1&ved=0CHcQrQMwDQ&iact=hc&vpx=895&vpy=276&dur=96&hovh=200&hovw=252&tx=153&ty=78&page=1&tbnh=145&tbnw=172&start=0&ndsp=28)
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Thank you for that reference – fascinating. It’s so great to get introductions to new work, so your link is very much appreciated.
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Fascinating concept.
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Yes, especially the freezing and filling with air approach.
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Eerily beautiful. Some of them are even almost frightening, particularly the second to last photograph. I love them for that.
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You’re so right. There’s a dark undertone which adds dimension.
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Reblogged this on liapachamama.
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Thanks for the re-blog, appreciated.
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Oh, these are breathtaking!
They remind me of the the wrapped tress along highway 7 that I have photographed: http://drawandshoot.me/category/wrapped-trees-2/
[Re]figuring the landscape…
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You’re right. I remember liking that post. Superb. These are equally gripping.
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Cool idea , I love the whole set , very original 😀
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Agree. I love her approach – the unknown memories angle.
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