Hermanni Saarinen

I am spending my time at the Saari Residence working on wooden sculptures for my upcoming exhibitions. My focus is on the artistic style, structure and expression of sculpture, and I am seeking inspiration from music and the combination of sounds, rhythm and intensity in particular. I see sculptures as also being made up of elements that come together to make something more when certain principles, proportions and arrangements are applied.

What I really want to understand and explore is the concept of harmony. For me, a good harmony is one that is not too haphazard but not too formulaic and predictable either. Harmony is about factoring in the role that each element plays in the whole and the properties of the material. For each piece, the equation is slightly different. I am fascinated by harmonies in music, architecture and sculpture alike, and I want to explore these in more depth. The concept is fundamental to the history of art and aesthetics, and there is no telling the direction in which such a broad topic will lead.

The sculptures that I am currently working on are made of good old Finnish pine. I always try to be considerate and respectful towards the material I use. Pine is widely used especially in construction and furniture in Finland. Its rather prominent knots and grain patterns make it perhaps less common in sculpture. The knots and the cellular structure of the material also determine what kinds of shapes can be made from it.

Hermanni Saarinen lives in Helsinki. His works have previously been on display at the SIC (2023) and Titanik (2021) galleries. Saarinen’s next exhibition will be at Galleria Sculptor in early 2026. His works are also featured in the new collection exhibition ‘A Dream in Four Colours’ at the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma.