The Tuuliruuhi project, which I had been working on for six years since 2022, was shown in August in the exhibition Moving Scape, Mutated Land, held at the HIAP Gallery in Suomenlinna, Helsinki. The sailboat I built was on display in its installation version in the gallery throughout the exhibition.
At the conclusion of the exhibition, on August 24, I performed a sailing performance in which I sailed the boat from Suomenlinna to Pyysaari in Laajasalo.
The show was curated by Clément Beraud. Text written by the curator for the show:
In this project, 7ODES delves into the diverse ways artistic mediums can capture and convey the experience of sailing. Through Tuuliruuhi, the artist questions the boundaries that often define the art world: the divide between the studio and its surroundings, the separation between exhibition spaces and the world beyond, and the distinctions between the art scene and broader societal groups. Yet, at its core, the work serves as a bridge, connecting the artist’s dual Finnish and French identities into a single, cohesive expression.
The boat itself was first constructed in Normandy, France, and refined during the summer of 2022 in Koppelo, Inari. Built within a self-built shed-atelier, it is a testament to resourcefulness and craftsmanship: its sail repurposed and sewed from an old linen canvas inherited from his great-great-grandfather; its keels, mast, and rudder carved from fresh birch trees and plywood; and its rigging and marine hardware meticulously installed (the last needed cleat, was finally carved afterward from a reindeer horn). By the end of August, the boat was ready, and 7ODES embarked on a five-day journey across Lake Inari, spending the nights camping on islands in a tent.
Sailing became more than a physical act. It was an exploration of perception, both in the making and the experiencing of the work. The boat traveled primarily across the rivers of France and then transported to Finland, where it was refined to adapt to the unique demands of Finnish lakes. Over the course of five days, the artist gathered a deeper understanding of landscape, observing how both his body and the boat responded to the nuances of different environments. He documented his sailing performance with a video camera, a microphone, and a film camera.
Through this journey, Tuuliruuhi transcends its role as a vessel. It becomes a medium for questioning how we perceive space, movement, and identity, blurring the “illusory lines” between art, nature, and personal experience.
Clément Beraud