Marita Liulia is an internationally renowned and exceptionally versatile artist and director. Her exhibition Golden Age opens at Serlachius Museums on 5th November 2016. Serlachius Museums launch its Finland 100 Years celebrations with Liulia’s theme.

Marita Liulia´s exhibition Golden Age opens at Serlachius Museums, Finland

Golden Age

Golden Age refers to the creative period of Marita Liulia since the exhibition presents around one hundred new works: paintings, photographs, short films and sculptures. Gold, which connects the works together, is seen in many forms and meanings.

In Finnish art, the term Golden Age refers to the period prior to Finland’s independence, when artists created a Finnish identity for the country. For a dialogue with her own works, Liulia has selected master works of the Golden Age. Also on display will be Helene Schjerfbeck’s painting The Red Haired Girl II, only recently acquired by Gösta Serlachius Fine Arts Foundation.

Finland’s second Golden Age

Liulia defines Finland’s second Golden Age as the period from the 1970s, when a small country rose quickly to become one of the world’s most advanced and affluent nations. “But what does Golden Age mean today? Does art create a national wellbeing that is mental, physical, economic and communal? Or in an era of individualism, is Golden Age also personal?” asks the artist.

Liulia’s large-scale paintings

Liulia’s large-scale paintings, often created with her bare hands, are inspired by Finnish nature. World events, democratic crises, natural disasters, bomb strikes and the plight of refugees are also present in the works.

Part of the exhibition is a series of portraits of new and native Finns. The photographs have been taken at the artist’s black table, where the turning points and golden ages of life have been discussed. “Great insight is often preceded by disaster. People are stories, and every story is fascinating. Now the time has arrived to focus on Finnishness,” says the artist, who has travelled the world her entire adult life and has exhibited her works in 50 countries.

A series of short films and a large sculptural installation have emerged alongside the photographs and paintings. Marita Liulia works in a museum the same way as she does in a theatre, so the exhibition under preparation is an experiential, holistic work of art.

More information:

Exhibition Golden Age

Exhibition Golden Age is open 5 November 2016 – 23 April 2017.

Serlachius Museums are open in wintertime 1 September – 31 May Tue-Sun 11 am–6 pm.

Artist, Director Marita Liulia

Artist, Director Marita Liulia, +358 40 833 8944, marita@maritaliulia.com

Serlachius Museums: Information Officer Susanna Yläjärvi, +358 50 560 0156, susanna.ylajarvi@serlachius.fi

Source: Serlachius Museums