Bioforum exhibitions aim to provide the public with a new perspective on their environment — a vision mirrored in UPM's renewing of the forest industry and renewable biomaterial development, such as wood-based diesel, wood-plastic composites and biochemicals, to complement traditional forest industry products.
"As a company who develop new bioeconomy products, we want to bring in Bioforum exhibitions that may act as a source of cultural or commercial inspiration. We are particularly proud of the fact that the first artist in Bioforum is Isabella Cabral, whose works the wood is a key source of inspiration," says Elisa Nilsson, Vice President, UPM Brand and Communications.
"Bioforum is an arena for both culture and commercial innovation. In the exhibitions, we will display different forms of art that explore both national and international perspectives. The content and themes will emphasise the Biofore context: connection to nature, genuine innovation and international interaction,” continues Elisa Nilsson.
"In addition to local and international company guests, we warmly welcome all Helsinki residents and visitors to the exhibition. In Bioforum, we actively aim to enable interaction with all of our stakeholders," Elisa Nilsson says.
The exhibition opens with works by Isabella Cabral
Isabella Cabral's paintings take the viewer on a journey from Brazilian waters to the northern forests of Finland, and each piece of wood has its own story to tell. The artist has given the works in the Fennica series names familiar to Finns, such as Väinämöinen, Aino, Urho, Tarmo and Sisu. The pieces of wood used in the Rio Negro series are, among other things, brightly coloured pieces constructed from the wood of dilapidated boats.
The multi-talented Isabella Cabral wrote her dissertation on Brazilian architecture and studied painting and art history in Brazil and France. Her works have previously been exhibited in the Åland Islands, Sweden, France and Brazil. Cabral currently lives part-time in Finland.
The exhibition is open to the public from 19 November to 14 December 2014, Wed–Fri 12:00–18:00, Sat 12:00–16:00 and Sun 12:00–18:00. Closed on 27 November and 6–7 December. Free admission.
For more information:
Elisa Nilsson, Vice President, Brand and Communications, UPM, tel. +358 40 500 3150
Discover Isabella Cabral and her exhibition on Youtube
Read more about Bioforum and Isabella Cabral on Elisa Nilsson’s blog.
UPM, Media Desk
Tel. +358 (0)40 588 3284
Mon–Fri from 9:00–16:00
media@upm.com
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Bioforum
UPM's Bioforum is a state-of-the-art architectural and exhibition space at UPM's Biofore House in Töölönlahti, Helsinki. Bioforum is an arena for both culture and commercial innovation. The exhibitions will contain national and international art, design and architecture, and UPM’s own exhibitions. Future exhibitions will feature individual artists, as well as works from the company's own collections. Through art, UPM wants to inspire new perspectives on the interaction between businesses, society and the general public.
UPM leads the reformation of the bio and forest industries. We are building a sustainable future in six business areas: UPM Biorefining, UPM Energy, UPM Raflatac, UPM Paper Asia, UPM Paper Europe and North America, and UPM Plywood. Our products are made of renewable raw materials and are recyclable. We serve a global base of customers. We employ approximately 21,000 people and our annual sales are approximately € 10 billion. UPM's shares are listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. UPM – The Biofore Company – www.upm.fi
Isabella Cabral
The first exhibition at UPM Bioforum, "Worlds apart, united in wood" is centred on wood. The Fennica series by Brazilian, Isabella Cabral, features the birch tree, whereas the Rio Negro series features pieces of old wooden boats.
"Fennica represents perseverance and Rio Negro flexibility. I think it's wonderful to combine the two in the same exhibition at Bioforum, which is neither a museum nor a gallery, but instead something entirely different," says Isabella Cabral.
"I love the birch, it's a beautiful tree, and it's not actually white but filled with colours. Aino features a fresh piece of birch, bright green on the inside, that I got from the forest myself. As the wood dries, it becomes brown."
"Rio Negro, on the other hand, was born when I found a piece of a boat in Brazil — it was beautifully blue. I then started collecting brightly coloured pieces of boats. The boats may have had several coats of paint, so you can peel the surface away and reveal different layers."
Everyday objects were also used in Isabella Cabral's previous work. Photo-like oil paintings feature pieces of wood, wine bottle corks, spoons and sweet buns in giant proportions — this gives the viewer an opportunity to look at the subjects in a new light and create their own story about them.
"Simple things become complicated when you look at them at length," Cabral says.
Isabella Cabral wrote her dissertation on Brazilian architecture and studied painting and art history in Brazil and France. Her works have previously been exhibited in the Åland Islands, Sweden, France and Brazil. Cabral currently shares her time between Finland and Paris, where she lives for the most of the year.
Isabella Cabral's CV:
Professor at School of Arts, 1999–2001, University of São Paulo/Brazil
Post-Doctorate in Arts, 1999–2001, School of Arts, University of São Paulo, Brazil
Digital Images, 1997–1998, Ecole Nationale Supèrieure des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, France
Art History, 1997–1998, Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, Paris, France
PhD in Architecture, 1996, Department of Architecture, University of São Paulo, Brazil
Painting, 1990–1996, Atelier Hermelindo Fiaminghi, São Paulo, Brazil
Master in Architecture, 1989, Department of Architecture, University of São Paulo, Brazil
Photo of Isabella Cabral in printable format (photo by Irmeli Jung)
Isabella Cabral (photo by Irmeli Jung)
