Animal figures hiding amongst the foliage encourage visitors to reflect on matters of empathy in visual artist Maija Tammi’s exhibition Hulda, Lilli and the Roach. Consisting of photographs, texts and video works, the exhibition issues an invitation to observe a story told from the perspectives of two different protagonists. Who or what does one ultimately empathise with?

The frame of the exhibition is based on the installation Hulda & Lilli (2023). The installation is divided into two parallel stories, and the visitor is requested to choose a path – and a story – to follow. The artistic whole draws on our tendency towards trusting stories and being absorbed in the constructed narratives of nature documentaries. In this work, the use of anthropomorphism, seeing human-like features in animals and other beings, is deliberate and considered. The exhibition finale, On the Third Day (2024), is an artwork consisting of video and animation. A secret concealed underneath gently moving flower petals is about to be revealed, and the roach has three days to remember what happened to it.

Hulda, Lilli and the Roach examines how emotions are formed and challenges the visitor to reflect on their own reactions and ways of thinking. The exhibition raises questions about how the combination of image and text affects our experience of empathy. Tammi’s works explore the construction of perception. Perception is influenced by emotions, and emotions are based on our previous knowledge, experiences, environment, and values.

Maija Tammi (b. 1985) is a Finnish artist and Doctor of Arts known for her powerful storytelling through the mediums of video, photography and installations. The core of her artistic practice is formed by a research-based approach and collaboration with multidisciplinary professionals and experts. Tammi’s practice is influenced by her extensive experience in photojournalism. Tammi holds a Master’s degree in Visual Journalism from the University of Tampere and later completed a Doctor of Arts degree at the Aalto University, Department of Media. Science and art are seamlessly combined in Maija Tammi’s works, which have been widely exhibited both in Finland and internationally.

Photo: Detail of the artwork Hulda & Lilli, 2023.