Grönlund – Nisunen

Reflection, 2013
mixed media
size variable

TOMMI GRÖNLUND’s and PETTERI NISUNEN’s architectural and kinetic installations are minimal yet poetic, restrained and precise in their expressive language, rigorously rational. The artist duo have worked together since the 80’s, after realizing their common interest in combining architecture, design, sound art and visual arts. While using technology, sound and light as the primary material in their works, their art addresses issues of space and physical phenomena through the sophisticated installations that often play with physical laws of nature. Grönlund–Nisunen’s works are always pared down, uncluttered and strict and despite that, or precisely because of it, they are fascinating and lyrical. 

Tommi Grönlund (b.1967, Turku) and Petteri Nisunen (b.1962, Helsinki) live and work in Helsinki. Their many solo exhibitions include venues such as Minsheng Art Museum, Shanghai; Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Rijeka; Museum of Contemporary Art, Zagreb; Kunsthalle Helsinki; Esther Schipper, Berlin; and Moderna Museet, Stockholm. They have participated in numerous international group exhibitions, including in Beijing, Sao Paulo, Waldenbuch, Kyoto, Venice and Berlin. Grönlund–Nisunen’s works are included in many public collections, including Rovaniemi Art Museum, EMMA Espoo Museum of Modern Art, Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, and Yuz Foundation in Jakarta/Shanghai. In 2002 they won the Finnish State Art Prize, and in 2013 they received the Leonardo da Vinci World Award of Arts. 

Grönlund–Nisunen, exhibition view, Wavelength: At the Moment, Times Art Museum, Beijing, 2021

Photo: Courtesy of the artists / Times Art Museum

Grönlund–Nisunen, Lunar Eclipse, 2007/2020

Photo: Courtesy of the artists

Grönlund–Nisunen & Ivana Franke:
Imminence, 2020
glass tubes, plastic elbow joints, distilled water, pump, wire, fixtures and glass flask
dimensions variable

Falling Water, 2019
glass tube, steel stand, plastic tube, adjustable pump, silicon, oil, distilled water, 192 x 38 x 38 cm, detail

Restless Horizon, 2016
silicone oil, distilled water, acrylic aquarium, aluminum structure, electric actuators
90 x 240 x 24 cm
edition of 3

In Saastamoinen Foundation collection

Perspective Studies 2, 2015
silver gelatin print
edition of 5

Wonderer of Gravity, 2016
aluminum wheel, stainless steel wire, coil sprigs, electric actuator, control unit
edition of 3

Liquid Diagram, 2019
detail

Photo: Courtesy of the artists

Cash Flow, 2012
mixed media
360 x 285 x 125 cm

Helsinki Beat Frequency, 2015
tone generators, subwoofers, cables

In private collection

TOMMI GRÖNLUND – PETTERI NISUNEN
11 Feb – 11 Mar 2012
exhibition view

Oscillator, 2012
mixed media
size variable

Selection of available works. For the full list, please contact galerie(at)anhava.com.

Perspective Study II, 2015
analogue colour photograph
45 x 45 cm
edition of 5

Wonderer of Gravity, 2016 aluminum wheel, stainless steel wire, coil springs, electric actuator, control unit
edition 3

Large Movement, 2013
watch movement, lens
3 x 12 x 12 cm / 1,2 x 4,8 x 4,8 in
edition of 3

Perspective Study I, 2015
analogue colour photograph
65 x 95cm
edition of 5

Colour Mixer, 2015
light projectors, sandblasted glass, aluminum structure
135 x 205 x 50 cm
edition of 3

Restless Horizon, 2016
silicone oil, distilled water, acrylic acquarium, aluminum structure,electric actuators, microswitches, control unit, cables
90 x 240 x 24 cm
edition of 3

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BioCVExhibitions

Exhibitions

Bio

Finnish artist duo TOMMI GRÖNLUND (b.1967) and PETTERI NISUNEN (b.1962) create sculptural installations and interventions in urban and natural environments. While using technology, sound and light as the primary material in their works, their art addresses issues of space and physical phenomena through the sophisticated installations that often play with physical laws of nature.

A steel hoop moves on cables stretched from one corner of a room to another without ever reaching its destination. A small steel cube is colder than the air in the room, making the moisture in the air condensate on its surface. A motor tilts an aquarium filled with two fluids of different density creating a continuous wave motion at the interface of the fluids.

With their backgrounds in architecture, Grönlund-Nisunen take physical phenomena such as gravity, magnetism or the movement of light as the starting point for their artistic practice. Their strict, precisely constructed artworks crystallize and encapsulate these phenomena we tend to regard as self-evident, bringing out the fascinating and poetic in them.

 

CV

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T O M M I  G R Ö N L U N D  &  P E T T E R I  N I S U N E N

Tommi Grönlund born 1967, lives and works in Helsinki
Petteri Nisunen born 1962, lives and works in Helsinki

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

  • 2020
    • Flow with Matter, Minsheng Art Museum, Shanghai Museum of Modern Art
  • 2019
    • Imminence / Time Slip, MMSU, Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Rijeka
  • 2018
    • Grey Area, Kuntsi Museum of Modern Art, Vaasa
  • 2017
    • Grey Area, Kunsthalle Helsinki
    • Grey Area, MSU Museum of Contemporary Art, Zagreb
  • 2016
    • Galerie Anhava, Helsinki
  • 2013
    • Esther Schipper, Berlin
  • 2012
    • Gallery Niklas Belenius, Stockholm
    • Galerie Anhava, Helsinki
  • 2010
    • Galleria Sculptor, Helsinki
  • 2009
    • Esther Schipper, Berlin
  • 2007
    • Galleri Andrehn-Schiptjenko, Stockholm
    • Galerie Salvador Diaz, Madrid
  • 2005
    • Gallerie Esther Schipper, Berlin
    • Orbita, Galleria NicolaFornello, Prato
  • 2004
    • Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee
    • Wäinö Aaltonen Museum, Turku
    • The 1st at Moderna Museet, Moderna Museet, Stockholm
    • Centre d’Art Contemporain la Synagogue de Delme
  • 2003
    • Galerie Schipper & Krome, Berlin
    • Galleri Andréhn-Schiptjenko, Stockholm
  • 2002
    • SMC/CAC Contemporary Art Center, Vilnus
  • 2000
    • Galleria Sculptor, Helsinki
  • 1999
    • Gallerie Public>, Paris
    • Gallerie Stefan Andersson, Umeå
  • 1998
    • Elements, Galleri Andrehn-Schiptjenko, Stockholm
    • Frequented Etherics, Spherics and Bars, Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, Helsinki, in collaboration with Carl-Michael von Hausswolff
  • 1997
    • Interference, Annexed Gallery, London, in collaboration with Juha van Ingen
    • Young Artist of the Year 1997, Tampere Art Museum
  • 1996
    • Evolution of Image, State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg, in collaboration with Sergei Bugajev
  • 1993
    • Radiance, Kluuvin galleria , Helsinki
    • Currents, Titanik galleria, Turku

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

  • 2020
    • freq_wave: 7 seas, TBA21-Academy´s Ocean Archive
    • Máquina del Tiempo/Time Machine, Museo de la Ciudad de Querétaro, Oueréta
  • 2019
    • Linha Atemporal/Timeless Line, Dan Galeria, Sao Paulo
    • Mielen silmin/With the Eyes of My Mind, Pori Art Museum
    • Kosketus, EMMA Espoo Museum of Modern Art, Espoo
  • 2018
    • Upside Down – Works from the Saastamoinen Foundation Art Collection, Kuopio Art Museum
    • Nine Tomorrows, Powerlong Art Center, Hangzhou
    • Toisto, Art Center Purnu
  • 2017
    • Lehmä pitää viedä jäälle,jotta se tanssii, Samuelis Baumgarten Galerie, Bielefield
  • 2016
    • Freq_Out 11, Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary (TBA21), Wien
    • Starry Skies of Art, Serlachius Museum Gösta, Mänttä
    • Ghost in the Machine, EIGEN + ART Lab, Berlin
    • Tampere Biennale, Vooninki, Tampere
  • 2015
    • Myth/History II, Shanghai Galaxy, Yuz Museum, Shanghai
    • TAJU, Hyvinkää Art Museum
    • Eppur Si Muove, And Yet it Moves, MUDAM Luxembourg
    • Esther Schipper & Johnen Galerie, 11 Colombia, Monaco
    • Sound Art Exhibition, Nordic Music Days 2015, King Christian Brewery, Copenhagen
  • 2014
    • Freq_out 10, 5th Marrakech Biennale
    • Structures of the Invisible, Galerija Klovicevi dvori, Zagreb
    • Laboratorio Arte Alameda, Mexico City
    • SKAN II, Skanu Mezs festival, Riga
    • Matters of Time – Artists from Finland, Frankfurt Kunstverein
    • Structures of the Invisible, Fondation Vasarely, Aix-en-Provence
    • Freq_Out 1.2, permanent sound installation, Skandion, Uppsala
  • 2013
    • Kiasma Hits, Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, Helsinki
    • Events in Nature, EMMA Espoo Museum of Modern Art
    • The 7th Wave, South-Karelia art Museum, Lappeenranta
    • The 7th Wave, Lönnström Art Museum, Rauma
    • Freq_out, Sonic Acts festival, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam
  • 2012
    • The 7th Wave, Helsinki Kunsthalle
    • Cage 100 – Opening Spaces for Action, Galerie für Zeitgenössische Kunst Leipzig
    • Cave Allegories, Retretti Art Center, Punkaharju
    • Freq_Out 8, Moderna Museet, Stockholm
    • Camouflage, Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, Helsinki
  • 2011
    • Kind of Nice, Galerie Anhava, Helsinki
    • Pattern Recognition, Galerie Kant, Esbjerg, Denmark
    • The Morning Line, T-B A21, Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary, Vienna
    • The North is Protected II (Death in Venice), Lido, Venice
    • Turku 2011, European Cultural Capital, Turku
  • 2010
    • 01-10, Esther Schipper, Berlin
    • Mänttä Art Festival, Mänttä
    • Umedalen Skulptur, Galleri Andersson/Sandström, Umeå
  • 2009
    • 3rd Moscow Biennale, Special Project Program, Moscow
  • 2008
    • Freq_out, workshop / group exhibition, Palace, Kortrijik, Belgium
    • H20 Contemporary, Peter and Paul Fortress, St.Petersburg
    • Plusmarca, Arte y Deporte, IVAM Institut Valencia d´Art Moderne, Valencia
    • Maan Asema / La position de la Terre, CRAC Alsace, Altkirch
  • 2007
    • SKAN project, Riga
    • Full Pull 07, Malmö
    • Laatikko, Galleria Alkovi, Helsinki
    • Freq_out, Dreamland is Burning, Kunsthalle, Budapest
  • 2006
    • Dreamland is Burning, Kunsthalle, Budapest
    • Focus Finlandia, KBB, Barcelona
    • How to Live together, 27a. Bienal de São Paulo, Pavilhão Ciccillo Matarazzo, São Paulo
    • Intersection – between Past and Future, Pori Art Museum, Pori, June
    • Freq_out, Sonambiente Festival, Berlin
    • Breaking the Ice – Comtemporary Art from Finland, Kunstmuseum Bonn
  • 2005
    • No Man is an Island – Nordic Constellations, Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo
    • Kyoto Art Walk -group show, Kiyomizudera Temple, Kyoto
    • Freq_out, Nuit Blanche Festival, Paris
    • Klangwald -festival, Riga
    • Helsinki International, Korjaamo, Helsinki
    • Netherlands Media Art Institute, Amsterdam
    • Art Unlimited, Art Basel
  • 2004
    • Kill your Timid Notion, Dundee Contemporary Arts
    • Edstranska Stiftelsen, Malmö Konsthall
    • Vid Livets Källa, Forum Box, Helsinki
    • Cinemascope, Budapest Autumn Festival
    • Freq_Out, Hovikodden Art Center, Oslo
    • Nr.6 Feel, Z33, Hasselt
    • Berlin North, Hamburger Bahnhoff, Berlin
  • 2003
    • Snow Show -preview, Palazzo Zorzi, Venice
    • Disturbances, Charlottenborg Exhibition Hall, Copenhagen
    • International Biennale for Contemporary Art, Gothenburg Art Museum
    • Todos somos pecadores, Museo MARCO, Monterray, Mexico
  • 2002
    • Prototype, Theiss, Austria
    • Art Forum Berlin, Galleri Andrehn-Shiptjenko at Berlin Messe
    • Villette Arts Numériques, La Grande Halle, Parc de la Villette, Paris
    • Todos somos pecadores, Museo Rufino Tamayo, Mexico City
    • Area, Gallerie Schipper & Krome, Berlin
    • Rouge Phosphene, Centre de Art Contemporain, Séte
    • Sonarmatica, Centre de Cultura Contemporain de Barcelona
    • Frequencies Hz – Audio Visual Spaces, Schirn Kunstahalle, Frankfurt
  • 2001
    • Cargo II, Foundation Kunstwerk Loods 6, Amsterdam
    • Ambient City 01 -radio project, Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, Helsinki, in collaboration with Iiro Auterinen and Matti Knaapi
    • Yokohama Triennale, Shin Minato Warehouse No.1, Yokohama
    • Entrophy in the Living Room, Stats Galleri, Kiel
    • The 49th Venice Biennale, Nordic Pavillion, Venice
    • Surfaces and Whrilpools, Borås Konst Museum
  • 2000
    • Naust, Bergen 2000, Bergen, in collaboration with Jaakob Solla
    • Under the Same Sky, Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, Helsinki
    • Bring the Noise, Centre Genevois de Gravure Contemporain, Geneve
    • Byn/Kylä, Tensta Konsthall, Stockholm
    • Audible Light, Museum of Modern Art Oxford, Oxford
  • 1999
    • Ambient City 99 -radio project, Art Cologne, Cologne
      (in collaboration with Iiro Auterinen and Matti Knaapi)
    • The Northern Summer Nights – Dark and Light, Århus Kunstbyggning
    • Finnish Line-Starting Point, Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain de Strasbourg
    • Generation Z, P.S.1-Art Center, New York
    • Ambient City 99 -radio project, Museum of Fine Arts, Antwerpen
      (in collaboration with Iiro Auterinen and Matti Knaapi)
    • 1998 Nuit Blanche, Musée d’art moderne de la Ville de Paris
    • Momentum – Nordic Festival for Contemporary Art, Moss
    • Off-Sonic, Sonar 98, Musee de Art Contemporain de Barcelona
    • Nuit Blanche, Pori Art Museum
  • 1997
    • Ambient City 97 -radio project, Gallerie Nemo, Eckenförde
      (in collaboration with Iiro Auterinen and Matti Knaapi)
    • Luonto/Nature, Kunsthalle Helsinki
  • 1996
    • Manifesta 1 -biennale, Rotterdam Kunsthalle
  • 1995
    • Helsinki Light Festival, Museum of Contemporary Art, Helsinki (in collaboration with Matti Knaapi)
    • Regional Art Show, Kerava Art Museum
  • 1994
    • Ambient City-radio project, Museum of Contemporary Art, Helsinki
      (in collaboration with Iiro Auterinen, Jarmo Eskelinen and Matti Knaapi)
    • Electronic Art, Rauma Art museum, Turku Art Museum and Alvar Aalto -museum, Jyväskylä

COLLECTIONS AND COMMISSIONS
2018 Aalto University, Väre building, Espoo
2017 New Children’s Hospital, Helsinki
2016 Lattice, Keilaniemi metro station, Espoo
2014 World Cultural Council Award 2014 ceremony, Aalto University, Otaniemi, Espoo
Pairs, Kastelli School, Oulu
Light Orography, Tampere University of Technology, Tampere
Blid Spot, Helsingin Runko housing co-operative, Arabianranta, Helsinki
2013 private collections in Switzerland and USA
2012 Emporia shopping center, Malmö
Helsingin Isolokki housing co-operative, Arabianranta, Helsinki
Yuz foundation, Jakarta/Shanghai
Arabianranta housing project, Helsinki
Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art
Saastamoinen Foundation / EMMA Espoo Musuem of Modern Art
Wäinö Aaltonen Museum of Art
Tampere Art Museum
2011 Kvarteret Lusten Högdel, Hornbergs Strand Housing Project, Stockholm
Wihuri Collection
2010 Kiasma – Museum of Contemporary Art, Helsinki
Emma – Espoo Museum of Contemporary Art, Espoo
2008 Bryggen shopping center, Vejle, Denmark
Nye Ahus Hospital, Akershus, Oslo
2007 Bergen University, Bergen
2006 Pori Art Museum, Pori
2005 Colección Siglo XXI, Afinsa, Madrid
2003 EVTEK University of Applied Sciences, Espoo
2001 Astra Biotech Laboratory, Stockholm
1999 Kiasma-Museum of Contemporary Art, Helsinki
1998 Jokiniemi Upper Secondary School, Vantaa

PRIZES AND AWARDS
2013 Leonardo da Vinci World Award of Arts
2004 Edstranska Stiftelsen
2001 Finnish State Art Award
2001 Stina Krook Foundation