As early as the 1940s Tąpies’ work was highly rated on the contemporary art scene. The first exhibition of his work at the 1952 Venice Biennale marked the start of his international career and by the 1960s he was already widely known and recognised. Today he has his own museum in Barcelona, set up in 1984 by the Fundaciņ Antoni Tąpies.

Antoni Tąpies has been fascinated by Abstractism throughout his career. With their earthy colours his works are characterised by the physical and the concrete. Tąpies uses pigments, different sorts of stone-based masses and everyday objects to create works which are tangibly material. The works are often as three-dimensional and present as his sculptures. Mixed in with the abstract structure are words, symbols and figurative themes. Catalonia has always been close to the politically active artist’s heart, the post-war trauma of Spain’s civil war is a theme which runs constantly through his work.

The exhibition of Tąpies' paintings, sculptures and prints, realised in co-operation with Art Partners Finland / Hannu Hilden, is the largest exhibition of the Catalonian master's work ever to be held in Finland. The works come from the artist's own collection and the collections of the Fundació Antoni Tapičs Museum, Galerie Lelong in Paris, Art Partners and from Finnish private collections. 

Alongside Tąpies Moving Portraits, an exhibition of video installations by women video artists, Eija-Liisa Ahtila, Salla Tykkä and A K Dolven will be shown in EMMA’s media galleries.

EMMA 6.6. - 26.8.2007
Antoni Tąpies
Moving Portraits

www.emma.museum

EMMA is located in the WeeGee exhibition centre, a former printing works designed by the architect Aarno Ruusuvuori. In addition to EMMA, the WeeGee building houses four other museums and Café WeeGee and the museum shop.

The WeeGee building is open on Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11-18 and on Wednesday and Thursday from 11-20.
WeeGee, Ahertajantie 5, Tapiola, 02100 Espoo.

EMMA – Espoo Museum of Modern Art is Finland’s largest art museum, with 5 000 square metres of gallery space. The museum presents modern art from its 19th century roots to contemporary art. The Saastamoinen Foundation Collection, which is on permanent display, presents a comprehensive overview of Finnish art. Since 1997 the Collection has also invested in international contemporary art. On display are paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, photographs, installations and video works from the 1910s until 2006. The Collection is complemented by high quality changing exhibitions. Exhibitions are supported by the versatile services of EMMA’s museum pedagogy department which include guided tours, workshops and lectures.