LAILA PULLINEN

Pullinen’s sculptures are rooted in the processes and materials of classical sculpture. In her works, Pullinen primarily used bronze and various stones, such as marble and lesser-known Finnish granites.

After graduating from the Academy of Fine Arts in 1958, Pullinen studied at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Rome with a UNESCO scholarship, and subsequently worked extensively in Italy during the early 1960s.

At the Venice Biennale in 1964, Pullinen’s work drew attention, and the renowned Milanese gallerist Gian Ferrari became her gallerist. Their collaboration ended when Pullinen returned to Finland in 1966 to create the large-scale explosion relief Aurinko tunturissa for the Montréal World Expo. Pullinen was a founding member of the artist group “Maaliskuulaiset”, which was active in the 1960s.

Her sculptures are rooted in the processes and materials of classical sculpture. In her works, Pullinen primarily used bronze and various types of stone, such as marble and lesser-known Finnish granites.

At the heart of Pullinen’s art lies a powerful Informalist concept of form, and an emphatic need to make the invisible visible. In the rougher draped parts of her bronzes, one can see fragments of ancient ideals and classical sculptures, while their polished parts rise passionately above the other elements like spirit or immaterial strength.

Pullinen’s work has permanently been accessible to the public in Vantaa in the sculpture park created on the grounds of Nissbacka Manor. The historic manor park has been transformed into a total work of art encompassing a selection of works spanning her entire career, including the prototype of her monumental earth-relief series (Muinainen meri, 1984).

Pullinen was awarded the Pro Finlandia medal in 1969. She was Artist of the Year in 1975. Laila Pullinen was granted the honorary title of Professor in 1995. In 2006, she was conferred an honorary doctorate by the Academy of Fine Arts.

Among the notable public works of sculptor Laila Pullinen are the memorial to Maila Talvio Itämeren tytär (1970) in Meilahti; the Ajatus relief (1975), created in honour of the CSCE, in the lobby of Finlandia Hall; Ajan henki – aineen vanki (1976) in Tikkurila; the memorial to Yrjö Kallinen Valaistuksen tie (1986) in Oulu; Muusa / Runoilijan aukio (1989) in Hervanta and Ikaros (2012) in Turku.

Laila Pullinen in the artist register.

Laila Pullinen on Wikipedia.