Jaakko Mattila: Lowest Common Denominator

7 October - 17 December 2011
James Hockey & Foyer Galleries, UCA Farnham

From 7 October – 17 December 2011, the James Hockey & Foyer Galleries, UCA Farnham, will host a stunning new exhibition: 'Lowest Common Denominator' by Jaakko Mattila, a UCA Fine Art graduate with an emerging international reputation.

Curated by Christine Kapteijn, UCA Galleries Manager & Curator, 'Lowest Common Denominator' refers to Mattila's urge to simplify painting to the bare minimum: "I would like to make visually interesting art global regardless of the cultural background or social status of the viewer. The work is aimed towards extreme mediocrity." Part of a creativity that crosses national boundaries and cultures, the exhibition aspires towards expressing the universal in art.

Trying to reach such an ideal requires more work than one can understand just by looking. Mattila lives with all his works in his imagination, sometimes for many years, before executing them. He does not use any sketchbooks and always works on the pieces directly. 

Consisting of work in gloss, oil, watercolour, print and installation, 'Lowest Common Denominator' brings together a diverse range of media allowing each individual piece to unfold from a unique perspective. A series of large scale landscapes never before seen in completion will be shown for the first time. In the intricate details and seductive colour of the slow drying gloss panels and delicate webs of overlaid watercolour, Mattila harnesses the qualities and physicality of each individual medium to push the visual impact of the works.

Jaakko Mattila breaks with the current idiom in international art circles. His is an art to be appreciated indiscriminate of the type or background of the viewer: a universally accessible experience. At the James Hockey & Foyer Galleries it is this aspiration for diverse access to high quality art and education which is core to our programme.

Accompanying the exhibition is the latest in the series of focus publications from the Galleries: Space 04. The publication includes an in-depth conversation between Jaakko Mattila and Christine Kapteijn, an essay by art critic Veiko Halmetoja and a catalogue of more of Mattila's sumptuous works.

The James Hockey & Foyer Galleries are also running an outreach programme including a community art project with the Sandy Hill Detached Youth Project funded by the Farnham South Street Trust, and a series of collaborative workshops in local schools with the South East Physics Network inspired by the incredible physicality of Mattila's colours.

Christine Kapteijn MA (RCA) MBA
Curator and Galleries Manager

James Hockey & Foyer Galleries, UCA Farnham

The James Hockey & Foyer Galleries are public exhibition spaces. The aim is to present work of lasting educational importance, which will invite participation and contribute to the public and professional debate. Respect for the specialist appreciation of disciplines, media and techniques remains vital to the promotion of the arts at the Galleries.

Opening Times

Monday - Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Closed Sunday & Bank Holidays
Admission free.

There is full disabled access to the galleries.

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