JP (Juha-Pekka) Väisänen
A distinctive and principled combination of conceptual art and activism
Born: 16.09.1966, Pieksämäki
Address: Vuorikatu 6 C 40, 00100 Helsinki
Phone: +358 50 573 8598
Email: jp@jpvaisanen.fi
Website: www.kattaus.art
curriculum vitae
Performance photo "Windhoek 1996." Photo: JP Väisänen
Performance photo "Kristiinankaupunki 2023." Photo: JP Väisänen.
JP (Juha-Pekka) Väisänen and the porcelain object "Kristiinankaupunki 2023" (Object trouvé). Photos: JP Väisänen.
JP (Juha-Pekka) Väisänen is an artist and journalist known in activist circles for combining conceptual art, performance, and social activism. Living in Helsinki and Espoo, Väisänen’s art is focused on strong societal themes, and he has had a visible career in visual arts and media.
Education and Artistic Development
Väisänen graduated as a Master of Fine Arts from the Academy of Fine Arts in Helsinki, Finland in 1990, after which he deepened his studies at the State University of New York at Albany and at Escuela Esmeralda in Mexico. These studies allowed him to specialize in, among other things, murals and public art.
Since 2009, Väisänen has regularly photographed and written articles about culture, activism, and politics for the Marxist newspaper Tiedonantaja. In 2022, he completed a Master’s degree in New Journalism at Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, which broadened his skills in media and journalism.
Artistic Manifesto and Annual Performance
Väisänen’s artistic work is principled and unique. Since 1990, he has followed his own artistic manifesto, according to which he gives away his artwork annually in a random location. The latest example of this is from 2024, when he carried out a performance on the Esplanade stage in Helsinki. In this case, artificial intelligence guided the artist to the Esplanade stage. Väisänen does not sell
his collages but instead sells white porcelain objects (Object trouvé) named after his performances. Väisänen focuses on performances where annual collages are displayed. The performances are silent presences, where interaction between the artist and the audience is key.
As a Journalist for Culture and Peace
Väisänen is also actively working as a journalist today. He is part of the editorial board of Uusi Sivu, an online publication by the artists' and cultural workers' peace organization PAND. Väisänen’s journalistic work includes photography, writing, and audio journalism in the form of documentaries and profiles, which he produces on the *Roteva Rosolli* platform on Spotify. His latest audio documentaries include the profile "Frau Ritva," about a Finnish woman who made her career in cartography in Germany; the audio essay "Everything That Doesn’t Kill," a portrayal of the spring’s political cuts to peace organizations in Finland; and the audio piece "Bex’s Third Place," which is a profile of a 22-year-old social media influencer struggling for her own place in a world that avoids diversity. Väisänen also contributes to various opinion and cultural magazines as a writer and photographer.
A Performance Artist Representing Social Themes
Väisänen’s performance art is known for its minimalism and strong presence. Performance groups like "New People" and "Marxipaanit" have also been part of Väisänen’s extensive artistic work. Väisänen’s most recent performance, "War and Peace," was seen in 2024 at Helsinki’s Night of the Arts, where a silent reading performance was held. People sat on the pavement at the end of Rauhankatu (Peace Street) on Unioninkatu to read Tolstoy’s *War and Peace* in Finnish, Swedish, English, Russian, Ukrainian, Arabic, and Hebrew.
Publications and International Exposure
Väisänen’s artistic influence is extensive, and his works have been featured in various media outlets and documentaries. He has published the photo-poetry collection *Calle 23* in Cuba, in collaboration with Cuban radio host-poet Luisa Margarita García Ortega, emphasizing his international exposure and versatility as an artist. Väisänen’s art exhibitions have been seen in places like the Prensa Internacional Gallery in Havana, Cuba; the Brazilian Cultural Center in Maputo, Mozambique; and the Frida Kahlo Gallery in Mexico City, Mexico.
Long-term Commitment to Art and Activism
One of his notable exhibitions, "Kristiinankaupunki 2022," was displayed at the Pop-Up Gallery on Fredrikinkatu in Helsinki in 2023, where photos, videos, sounds, and porcelain objects combined to create a conceptual whole. This exhibition featured for the first time a white porcelain object (Object trouvé), named after the performance site, and was available for purchase.
JP Väisänen’s career reflects a strong commitment to both art and societal issues. His work is driven by the principle that art belongs to the people. This belief is evident in all his activities – both as an artist and as a journalist.
Journalist Pessi Rautio's critique in Helsingin Sanomat in 1995. Photo: JP Väisänen.
Journalists have created several documentaries about Väisänen, including Anneli Tempakka’s "Persona Grata" radio program on Yleisradio's Ykkönen, Seija Aunila’s documentary "Ei myytävänä" (YLE TV1, 1995), and Jaana Kanninen’s documentary "Taiteilijan manifesti" (YLE TV1, 2005). Reviews of Väisänen's art have also been published, such as Pessi Rautio’s critique in Helsingin Sanomat (HS, 1995), Erik Kruskopf’s critique in Hufvudstadsbladet (Hbl, 1995), and Maarit Suokas’s review in Taide magazine, issue 1/2000.
Artist Väisänen has also worked as a visual arts teacher at institutions such as Turku Academy of Fine Arts, Turku Drawing School, Annantalo, the City of Helsinki’s Education Department, VR, Yleisradio, and various lecture and teaching engagements, including at the Academy of Fine Arts (lecture), Imatra Art School, and Joensuu School of Art and Crafts.
Artistic Focus
JP Väisänen has concentrated on creating art according to the manifesto and street performances, resulting in fewer gallery exhibitions since 2004.
For current information, images, and articles about Väisänen’s artistic activities, visit: Artist’s own site "Kattaus": https://www.kattaus.art/
Finnish Artists' Association Visual Arts Register: https://kuvataiteilijamatrikkeli.fi/taiteilija/vaisanen-juha-pekka
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kasitetaiteilijajpvaisanen/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jpvaisanentaiteilija/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@juhapekkavaisanen
Exhibitions and Artistic Projects
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1990 Hagelstam Gallery, We Too Are Two, with Linda RR-Hahner
1995 First commercial gallery exhibition, Pelini Gallery, Helsinki
1997 Frida Kahlo Gallery, Mexico City, Mexico
1998 Brazilian Cultural Center, Maputo, Mozambique
1998 Prensa Internacional Gallery, Havana, Cuba
2000 Galería del Cerro, Havana, Cuba
JP (Juha-Pekka) Väisäsen näyttelykutsu Frida Kahlo Galleriaan 1997. Kuva: JP Väisänen
2004 Stage of Ideological Art, Helsinki
2023 Pop-Up Gallery, Fredrikinkatu, Helsinki
Manifesto Performances
Väisänen’s performances have been followed in more than 20 countries:
1993 Helsinki, Finland
1994 Helsinki, Finland
1995 Helsinki, Finland
1996 Windhoek, Namibia
1997 Pylos, Greece
1998 Havana, Cuba
1999 Ilha da Inhaca, Mozambique
2000 Havana, Cuba
2001 Pieksämäki, Finland
2002 Brussels, Belgium
2003 Sotkamo, Finland
2004 Tallinn, Estonia
2005 Madrid, Spain
2006 Beirut, Lebanon
2007 Paris, France
2008 Mobberley, UK
2009 New Delhi, India
2010 Tshwane, South Africa
2011 Bonn, Germany
2012 Givors, France
2013 Kallio, Helsinki, Finland
2014 Lijiang, China
2015 Dajla, Western Sahara
2016 Hanoi, Vietnam
2017 Saint Petersburg, Russia
2018 Malmi, Helsinki, Finland
2019 Izmir, Turkey
2020 At the Border – On the Border, Finland-Sweden
2021 Brussels, Belgium
2022Caracas, Venezuela
2023 Kristiinankaupunki, Finland
2024 Esplanade Stage, Helsinki, Finland
Artistic Collaborations
*We Too Are Two* was a ten-year artistic collaboration from 1990 to 2000 with American visual artist Linda Ruffner-Russell-Hahner. The collaboration was based on communication through drawing, with discussions turned into exhibitions, starting in 1990 at Hagelstam Gallery in Helsinki.
“Uudet ihmiset” in front of the EU Delegation in the performance "Day of the False King."
Photos: Tuuli Honkanen, Sofie Jokinen, Tiina Kuisma-Häkkinen.
The performance group New People (Uudet ihmiset)
(website: [uudetihmiset.weebly.com](https://uudetihmiset.weebly.com)) emerged in February 2003 out of the need to comment on the threat of the Iraq War. *New People* is an open performance group formed by artists and activists from PAND. The group is explicitly political and comments on war, violence, the power of money, environmental destruction, and refugees. They actively engage in activism and are closer to NGOs and protests than art institutions. Their first performance, *The Day of the False King*, involved five people dressed in white and one figure wrapped in yellow-black tape walking to embassies in Helsinki. They staged various politically charged performances, such as asking for coalition members at the Venezuelan Embassy and declaring war at the Swiss Embassy in line with George Bush’s rhetoric at the time.
"Day of the False King"
Original Idea: Taru Salmenkari
Action Group: Adel Abidin, Tanja Lindgrén, Kirsti Puhakka, Petra Renvall, Ulla Tarvainen, Juha-Pekka Väisänen
Texts: Taru Salmenkari
Video: Sonja Renvall
Photos: Tuuli Honkanen, Sofie Jokinen, Tiina Kuisma-Häkkinen
Website: Petra Renvall
Arrangements: Juha-Pekka Väisänen
Secretary: Helena Mielonen
Production: PAND Artists for Peace
MEDIA: 20.3.2003 YLE TV 1 VALOPILKKU, produced by Minna Joenniemi
In 2003, New People was a performance group by Taru Salmenkari and Juha-Pekka Väisänen, who each created performances for it. Since 2004, it has been based on collaboration between Taru Salmenkari and Noora Ojala. Performers in the performances have been recruited from various backgrounds, including artists and asylum seekers. From the art world, participants in New People’s performances have included Titta Halinen and Adel Abidin.
Special Performances:
- 1997: With Meissa Njang, "No syödään sitten leivoksia" at the opening performance of the Köysirata Gallery, Turku Academy of Fine Arts.
- 2002: With Gloria Kaje Weng, "You Have Mail," Suomi 2024, Varkaus Art Museum.
- 2018–2022: Marxipaanit: The artist duo of Riitta Häkälä and JP (Juha-Pekka) Väisänen, known for creating political art. Marxipaanit is recognized by public discussions, red fabric, and a table where Marx is read.
Audio document "Frau Ritva" and porcelain object "Kallio 2013" (Object Trouvé). Photos: JP Väisänen.
Silent reading performance "War and Peace" at Helsinki Night of the Arts on August 15, 2024. Photo: JP Väisänen
Collage "Serpent-Moving Waters" 2024. Photo: JP Väisänen
curriculum vitae
JP (Juha-Pekka) Väisänen
Exhibition photo 2023 Pop-Up Gallery Fredalla "Kristiinankaupunki 2023." Photo: JP Väisänen.