SÍM Residency, in collaboration with Finnish Cultural Foundation, presents Crawl back in - a solo exhibition by artist-in-residence Reija Meriläinen, at SÍM Gallery. A warm welcome to the opening reception on May 14th, at 5 pm.Crawl back in lingers in a state of soft mutation – a space between forms, where desire, discomfort, and tenderness blur. Glimpses of digital intimacy and fan fixations surface and dissolve. Something has been shed. Something unsettled remains. It’s always slightly too much.The exhibition will run until May 25th and is open on weekdays from 12-5pm and Saturdays from 1-5pm.Reija Meriläinen is a Helsinki based artist working with video, sculpture, and installations that combine the digital and physical. In their work, social tensions and power are linked to physical
and material sensations. While visually soft, the pieces often hint at power relations and violence. Their work combines autobiographical elements with exaggeration and fantasy to push the boundaries of what is normal or comfortable. In their work, they often play with the juxtaposition of something that is both appealing and repulsive – both visually and thematically. Something that can be both caring and violent at the same time – soft and hard. There is always a haptic aspect to their work, whether actual or simulated. Often working with textiles and soft materials, their work reflects the digital media that they consume and the online cultures they inhabit. Reija is passionate about fan art.