We had the opportunity to ask Ville Kansanen a few questions about his experience as an artist-in-residence at the Griffin Museum. Kansanen exhibited a series of photo-based projects and installations, including Mojave Portals, Arid Harbingers and the site-specific installation Salting the Earth from July 22 – October 15, 2023.
A Q&A with the artist follows.
Applications for our Cummings Residency are open through October 31, 2024.
Apply now through Café.
Ville Kansanen (b.1984) is a Finnish multidisciplinary artist based in California. He works with photography, video, installation and land art. His work has been featured in several print- and online publications such as American Photo Magazine, GUP Magazine, SFAQ and Diffusion Magazine. Ville’s awards include a Lucie Award and IPA Fine Art Photographer of the Year. His first monograph was released by Datz Press in 2022. He has exhibited internationally with non-profit and private galleries.
Follow Ville on Instagram: @villekansanen
What are you working on now a year from your residency?
I’m primarily focused on developing new directions for my art practice, and focusing on my design career at the moment.
How did the work you created on site at the museum expanded or impacted your practice?
The residency afforded me the time and space to work with very demanding physical installation for the very first time. That gave me the confidence to stage sculptures and site specific installations at the Marshall Gallery in Los Angeles earlier this year.
How was your time in Winchester like?
I enjoyed the slower pace of the Winchester. I didn’t have as much time enjoying the town as I would’ve liked. The beautiful grounds at the Griffin Museum made me think of my home country Finland. I very much hope I can come back again soon.
What did the Cummings Fellowship mean for your art practice?
It was an incredibly valuable lesson in proportionality, planning, and perseverance. The residency gave me the courage to continue making even more ambitious and difficult work in the future.
