Graduate Exhibition

“Every angel is terrifying. And yet, alas, I invoke you, almost deadly birds of the soul, knowing about you.” (Rilke) A bed burns, a wing lays draped, a bird hops, is trapped, a woman hums, and shadow figures fall. It is a story of destruction, captivity and hope. An angel can be a messenger of redemption, or a terror of the unknown. Terhi Hakola’s installation has evolved from her personal experiences with the illness and death of close friends. Her work struggles with how to express the inexpressible, and how to evoke the invisible presence of someone absent. Terhi's installation claims a space within the void of death; it invites viewers to contemplate the paradox of being human. Terhi Hakola is a Finland-born artist based in Sydney working with video, installation and painting. Recurring themes of her work regard identity, belonging and mortality as the defining denominators of human life. Terhi has a Master of Art from UNSW and a degree in medicine.