SIMKA: Site and vegetation in art
In this open lecture, the artist duo formed by Simon Häggblom and Karin Lind will talk about their artistic practice, which involves working with living materials, such as water, plants and people.
SIMKA moves in the borderland between sculpture, landscape, performance, and garden. The artist duo often works in public spaces, with living materials: water, trees, grass, people.
In their lecture, SIMKA will share
- how their practice has developed,
- how place and vegetation function as active co-creators,
- how they work in a process-based and nomadic way,
- and how this can be understood as artistic formation.
”SIMKA’s approach to art making is very down to earth – they think hard about the context they are working in, and they often work collaboratively with local people, students, and so on. They are very interested in ecology and social issues. Simon is a trained professional gardener, as well as an artist. Karin is also an artist and scenographer. They live a lot of the year on a small island in Ahvenanmaa. SIMKA’s workshop is a follow on from my ”The Garden” lecture series, and hopefully will result in some kind of garden activities at the Academy of Fine Arts. As Simon and Karin are both very warm and giving people, I hope that the students will find them easily approachable and be ready to discuss and work with them. I think they will learn different ways to think about art making, working together collaboratively, working with natural materials.”
–Andy Best, Professor in sculpture and inviting teacher
About SIMKA
SIMKA is the project name for Ålander-Swedish visual artists Simon Häggblom and Karin Lind’s shared artistic activities. Through SIMKA they combine their knowledge and skill from visual art, set design and landscape architecture.
Visiting professors lecture series
Uniarts Helsinki’s Academy of Fine Arts regularly invites distinguished international artists and art experts to teach for a fixed period. The visit also includes a public lecture that is open to all. uniarts.fi/visiting-professors.
SIMKA moves in the borderland between sculpture, landscape, performance, and garden. The artist duo often works in public spaces, with living materials: water, trees, grass, people.
In their lecture, SIMKA will share
- how their practice has developed,
- how place and vegetation function as active co-creators,
- how they work in a process-based and nomadic way,
- and how this can be understood as artistic formation.
”SIMKA’s approach to art making is very down to earth – they think hard about the context they are working in, and they often work collaboratively with local people, students, and so on. They are very interested in ecology and social issues. Simon is a trained professional gardener, as well as an artist. Karin is also an artist and scenographer. They live a lot of the year on a small island in Ahvenanmaa. SIMKA’s workshop is a follow on from my ”The Garden” lecture series, and hopefully will result in some kind of garden activities at the Academy of Fine Arts. As Simon and Karin are both very warm and giving people, I hope that the students will find them easily approachable and be ready to discuss and work with them. I think they will learn different ways to think about art making, working together collaboratively, working with natural materials.”
–Andy Best, Professor in sculpture and inviting teacher
About SIMKA
SIMKA is the project name for Ålander-Swedish visual artists Simon Häggblom and Karin Lind’s shared artistic activities. Through SIMKA they combine their knowledge and skill from visual art, set design and landscape architecture.
Visiting professors lecture series
Uniarts Helsinki’s Academy of Fine Arts regularly invites distinguished international artists and art experts to teach for a fixed period. The visit also includes a public lecture that is open to all. uniarts.fi/visiting-professors.