HB381 gallery presents Pekka Paikkari's abstracted 'Winter Tales' in New York

Hostler Burrows has organised the evocative exhibition Winter Tales, showcasing sculptural reliefs shaped by the Finnish artist Pekka Paikkari, within their New York space—HB381 gallery. The Helsinki-based artist specialises in ceramic art, using the material's natural texture to define his artworks.

The artist's solo exhibition, open from December 13, 2024 - February 22, 2025, delves into the interplay of control and chaos in Paikkari's process-driven works. His creations, such as The Origin of Winter (2024) and Silence of the First Snow (2024), capture the stark beauty of Nordic winters through a harmonious blend of intentional craftsmanship and natural entropy. His unique approach—using objects such as gardening rakes and brooms to incise clay—results in abstract, yet profoundly narrative works.

Paikkari's process embraces the unpredictable. As Glenn Adamson notes, in the official press release about the Finland-based artist, "Paikkari lets the material find its own form, cracking along undetectable internal fault lines." This technique, discovered two decades ago, has since defined his artistry. Each piece, from the bifurcated lines in First Snow (2024) to the textured layers of Walking on the Ice (2019), reflects Paikkari's commitment to exploring winter's fragility and resilience.

Using reclaimed wood and glazed stoneware, the ceramic artist crafts monumental works like The Disappearing Fragility of Winter (2023) and Haiku (2024), which invite viewers into an immersive experience of 'visual topology'. The textured surfaces and monochromatic hues evoke the haunting poetry of snow-blanketed fields, frozen ponds and crisp winter mornings.

Central to the exhibition are the ceramicist's works such as the Odd Perennials (2010-19) series, where the intricate convergence of glazed stoneware and glass reimagines perennial growth patterns and Shades of the Autumn (2024), which features a reclaimed wood base embodying the essence of seasonal transitions. These pieces, alongside the evocative Rowan Berries (2024) and In Cloudy Water (2024), highlight Pekka Paikkari's dedication to eco-conscious virtuosity and innovative ceramic design. Hostler Burrows' focus on sustainable practices and the promotion of Nordic design aesthetics shines through in the curated selection, making Winter Tales a standout showcase of thoughtful and forward-thinking artistry.

Winter Tales offers a profound exploration of the fragile beauty and raw power of the winter landscape through Paikkari's masterful sculptural reliefs. The exhibition invites viewers to immerse themselves in the tactile interplay of texture, materiality and chance, reflecting the artist's unique approach to ceramic sensitivity. This showcase transcends traditional boundaries by including intentional design which evokes a sense of timelessness and wonder. Whether through the stark, monochrome hues of Silence of the First Snow or the poetic intricacies of Odd Perennials, each piece resonates with the quiet yet commanding presence of winter's narrative. Winter Tales is a journey into the heart of Nordic culture and the enduring dialogue between art and nature.