JUDAS ARRIETA & RIIKO SAKKINEN feat. CAO HUAN YI: Operation Golden Monkey

Korjaamo Galleria is proud to present the first exhibition of the fall, 'Operation Golden Monkey' by Judas Arrieta and Riiko Sakkinen. Arrieta is a Basque-artist based in Beijing, and Riiko Sakkinen is a Finnish artist living in Spain. Cao Huan Yi, a retired Chinese Communist Party's propaganda painter has also participated in two works.

The exhibition tackles themes such as China's political, economic and cultural impact in the global world. China has become the economic superpower, but does it also conquer the cultural world?

The paintings  were made in Beijing in the summer of 2009, when Sakkinen worked together with Arrietan for two months at his Manga Art Studio. The artists asked Arrieta's father-in-law, Cao, for assistance, when he was painting landscapes at the studio during his retirement days. Thus he complemented the approach to China. Sakkinen was a visitor in China and Arrieta has been living there for several years. Cao has lived throughout the whole history of the People's Republic of China. The exhibition also includes new series of drawings and a slideshow, China For Dummies.

Judas Arrieta (b. 1971, Hondarribia, Spain) has lived in Beijing since 2005. Arrieta makes paintings, drawings, videos, art toys, slides and cartoons. Arrieta's Manga Art Studio holds residencies for artists from Spain. He has organised several exhibitions of Spanish artists in China and also taken Chinese artists to Spain. Arrieta’s works have been exhibited in e.g. The Guggenheim Bilbao, La Casa Encendida in Madrid and 798 Art Space in Beijing.

Riiko Sakkinen (b. 1976, Helsinki, Finland) has lived in Cervera de los Montes in Spain since 2003. Sakkinen makes paintings, drawings, objects, and ceramics. After visiting China for the first time in 2006, Sakkinen has continued dealing with topics and themes related to the country. His works have been exhibited in e.g. The Museum of Modern Art in New York, MUSAC Museum of Contemporary Art in Leon and Kiasma in Helsinki.

In 2009, Sakkinen co-curated the exhibition 'Valumateoria' in Korjaamo Galleria together with Judas Arrietan and Aura Seikkula. The exhibition presented works from nearly hundred artists. Arrieta was responsible for inviting the Asian participants.

Works of Arrieta and Sakkinen are also in the Culture Tram from August 9 to September 8.
Information: www.korjaamo.fi/en/culture-tram

Public discussion on artistic work and the art world in China   

Korjaamo Galleria, August 11 at 4.30–6 p.m.
What is it like to work as an artist in China? How are Chinese artists dealt with in the West? Researcher of Chinese visual culture and contemporary art expert Minna Valjakka talks with Judas Arrieta and Riiko Sakkinen about artists in China and the international attention drawn to Chinese art. Moderated by Timo Valjakka. Discussion is in English.