Laura Lappi, Nordic enigmas

Laura Lappi is a Finnish artist who has long lived in Brooklyn in the United States. Interested in observing and examining how architecture and spatial environments influence our perceptions and reality, her artistic research is aimed at the experience and emotional charge of different places and the fluid boundaries between reality and fiction. In this exhibition Lappi draws inspiration from ancient Scandinavian basilicas, cathedrals and medieval wooden structures. Her sculptures capture diverse architectural forms, evoking qualities found in celebrated architectural masterpieces around the world. Using wood as his primary medium, Lappi establishes a direct connection to her homeland and the natural world, ever-present through forests, architecture, furniture and as a source of heat during Finland's long dark seasons. Layering wood to form intricate geometric patterns, Lappi applies a charring technique using fire, inspired by the ancient Japanese art of yakisugi. This transformation process results in a deep, beautiful black texture that reflects and absorbs light in mesmerizing ways.