You can spend a night in the Villa
Venue: Villa Eläintarha Artist Residency, Eläintarhantie 14, Helsinki
Date: 22-29 November
Time: Mon–Fri 10–16, Sat closed, Sun 12-15 with artist in attendance

Opening event on Wednesday 22 November, 17–20. Welcome!

You can spend a night in the Villa
I will make you some tea
musta tai vihreä tai kamomilla
“You can spend a night in the Villa” was the phrase used when proposing an overnight stay between my flight and train journey when I arrive in Finland with my daughter Rada in May 2022. That was the first night we spent at the Villa, our first night in Finland.

At Villa Eläintarha artist Katya Lesiv will present a photographic exhibition integrated into the common living space of Villa Eläintarha which frames presence in a special context, as a transition point. In the images, taken over her various stays during weeks of in-betweenness, the Villa is observing, refreshing and purifying every aspect of routine in mind, day and relationship.

You can also come to spend an evening at the villa on the opening Wednesday November 22nd 17:00-20:00 where the artist will be your host.

Katya Lesiv (b. 1993, Ukraine) is a visual artist, photographer. Currently lives and works between Ukraine and Finland. She is educated with a MA from National Academy of Fine Art and Architecture in Kyiv (2017). She works with the topics of cyclicality, physicality, emotional and sensitive experience, and motherhood. She works in various media genres such as artbook, photography, object, installation, graphics, and video. Her particular interest is the exhibition of the book as an object in space. The artbook “Lullaby 1” belongs to the world’s top-100 photobooks “How We See: Photobooks by Women” according to 10×10 Photobooks. Artbook “I love you” was shortlisted by Aperture PhotoBooks Award in 2022.

The exhibition is supported by Ukraine Solidarity Residency Programme, HIAP and Finnish Darkroom Association.