Kristian Jalava

The embrasure (ampuma-aukko) anticipates a relationship between the bunker and the limits of the firing range, the firing slit, like the squint of the eyelid, reduces the visual field to a strict minimum, to the target, with the aim of protecting the inner organ – in this case the man aiming at the target – but this protection amounts to a gain in accuracy. Indeed, with the narrowing of the technological pupil, you eliminate the risks of shock that would destroy the human organ while eliminating in the same stroke the unvital sideshow of the landscape. There is synesthetics here; protection accomplishes accuracy and accuracy in turn protects.

Paul Virilio (1975)

The works are produced in ÖRES and in the residency on the Utö island managed by the artist-run Kuvan residenssiyhdistys.

The former shooting range serves as a stand for a landscape where a battle for survival is underway. Sunny and dry habitats (paahdeympäristöt) are open spots which are warmer than their surroundings and populate distinctive species. These habitats need constant care or otherwise they will overgrow. Keeping Örö’s dry habitats open requires keeping pines, junipers and heather, but also the vegetation of the ground level under control. During the last century the sunny and dry habitats of Örö have been kept open above all by the actions of The Finnish Defence Forces.