Ulla Paakkunainen, Noora Palmu: Crocodile and weeds
Crocodile and weeds
Ulla Paakkunainen and Noora Palmu presents the Crocodile and weeds -exhibition that is moving at ground level. The focus is on the local soil, its manifestations and essence, the exhibition allows us to reflect on human actions and approach to the land. In Kalasatama, Helsinki, we live on a new rocky surface, with concrete and asphalt landscapes dominating with the angular shapes. Everything is covered, small plantings are underlaid and surrounded by stone borders. The exhibition digs to find organisms that should be in an urban environment, and considers the future of the earth from the bird's eye view and frog perspective.
The exhibition raises questions of our times, what makes us happy and what brings us security. Would it be safe to have nature in the view of our home street, or would it bring happiness to experience the soil and its shapes?
Opening on 10th September 2026, welcome!
Ulla Paakkunainen is a Helsinki-based visual artist and textile designer. She graduated with a Master of Arts (MA) from the University of Art and Design (Aalto University) in 1993. Paakkunainen's works deal with being human in many ways, as well as the built environment and its changes. She often combines photography with various materials, such as textiles, using collage, mixed media, installations or drawing in her works. In her production, the works are either unique or in small editions. Her works are in the Finnish State Art Collection, Helsinki Art Museum (HAM) and Design Museum collections. In addition to her artistic work, Paakkunainen has worked as an art teacher at several educational institutions.
Noora Palmu is a Finnish multidisciplinary artist living and working in Helsinki, Finland. She is working with the mediums of installation, ceramics, photography, painting, performance and street art. She has completed a Master of Arts (MA) at The Department of Arts, Aalto University, School of Arts, Design and Architecture (2008).
In my artistic work, I want to bring out things that remain unsaid and describe relationships of influence that have no room for public discussion. I get excited about the environment, I'm fascinated by community spirit, relationships with nature and interaction in society.
I am interested in the wishes, attitudes and fears of people in relation to environmental change. These relations and backgrounds of the communities and people are often represented in my works. In my art you can see the traces of environmental activism and the search for interaction with the viewers and experiencers of art.
Free entrance