Irina Laaja

The complexity and signification of the body fascinates me; how something so concrete and straightforward, can also be so complicated and difficult. How views on, and definitions of, sexuality, normality and obscenity are woven in, between and through, our physique and our subconscious.
Strange, uncanny places consisting of both pain and humor, exposing something insecure or uncomfortable yet unapologetic.

My practice is both conceptual and confessional, connecting the personal and the political in a contemporary context. With great focus on the process and my own body, as well as the experiences that stem from it, I aim to approach the relationship between the "body" and “ourselves".
Although the idea-based content usually helps to decide the medium, I do tend to return to textile, sculpture and drawing, often using techniques and methods otherwise associated with handicraft and Pattern Cutting.

2018-2020 Master Fine Arts, Umeå Academy of Fine Arts
2010-2014 Bachelor History of Arts, Uppsala University
2009-2010 Patternmaking and Sewing, Gothenburg Academy of Cutting and Tailoring
2006-2009 Upper secondary school, Designprogram, Dragonskolan Umeå
2005-2006 Upper secondary school, Fine Arts, Midgårdsskolan Umeå

SOLO EXHIBITONS
2022 Besvärligheter och andra entiteter, Handkraft Öland, SWE
2022 Löken blommar, Galleri Alva, Umeå, SWE
2019 If you were your own, RÝMD Gallery, Part of Sequences real time art festival, artist run biennial in Reykjavík, ICE
2018 [fe]male gaze, Galleri Majkens, Stockholm, SWE
2017 [fe]male gaze, Retramp Gallery, Berlin, GER

DUO EXHIBITIONS
2021 MAN på Feministisk vecka, Museum Anna Nordlander, with Jessika Björhn, SWE

GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2021 WEST PRIDE, Gothenburg City Library's Exhibition hall, SWE
2021 GRUNCH Misschiefs Takeover Stockholm, SWE
2020/2021 BODY, Zest Hall, Virtual Gallery hosted by Round Lemon, UK

2020 DOMESTIC SYSTEMIC PANDEMIC, Detroit Gallery Stockholm and online at GalleriMajkens.se, SWE
2020 HÖSTSALONG, Virtual Autumn Salon, Galleri Silk, SWE
2020 EARTH, Zest Hall, Virtual Gallery hosted by Round Lemon, UK
2020 Tools for The Future, Master exam exhibition, Umeå Academy of Fine Arts and Bildmuseet Museum Umeå
(online due to Covid-19), SWE
2019 Masters Fall Exhibition 1, with Martin Eltermann and Ella Shipway, Galleriet, Umeå, SWE
2019 It looks good on paper, Galleriet, Umeå, SWE
2019 No New Media, Galleri Alva, Umeå, SWE
2018 Tonight's the night, Galleriet, Umeå, SWE
2017 Evening of Erotica, ...