The artist duo, Grönlund–Nisunen, have been working together for over 30 years. They are well-known for their kinetic installations and sculptures combining technology and sound. The duo’s professional background is in architecture and music provide a foundation for artworks that explore space, light, sound and movement.
The artist duo Grönlund–Nisunen observe the present time while scouring the future. Their artworks are based on everyday observations related to physical phenomena, such as electric current, radiation, gravity, magnetism and the properties of matter and sound.
Grönlund–Nisunen’s artworks focus on the quintessential. They do not symbolise or represent anything specific; rather, the observation focuses on the existence of something, or the activity itself. The understated aesthetics do not take a position on beauty, instead leading to a sensory experience.
The artist duo consists of Tommi Grönlund (b. Turku) and Petteri Nisunen (b. Helsinki). They live and work in Helsinki. In addition to their art practice, Grönlund works with his Sähkö Recordings record label, established in the early 1990. Nisunen, in turn, has worked as a Professor of Contemporary Art at Aalto University, and is currently a Vice Dean at the University of the Arts Helsinki’s Academy of Fine Arts.
Grönlund-Nisunen’s debut exhibition, Currents, was held at Gallery Titanik in 1993. Since then, they have built a solid career by participating in exhibitions and art events worldwide. In 1997, the Grönlund–Nisunen duo received the Young Artist of the Year award. In 2001, they curated the Nordic Pavilion for the 49th Venice Biennale, and participated in the exhibition themselves. In 2021, they were awarded a five-year Artist Professor’s Grant by the state. Known for their various public artworks, the collaborative duo Grönlund–Nisunen were selected as designers for the artwork to be displayed outside Turku Music Hall Fuga, which is set to be completed by the end of 2025.
”The best way to predict the future is to design it.”
– Buckminster Fuller
More information
Curator
Niina Tanskanen
niina.tanskanen@avan.fi
040 585 4499
