RETROSPECTIVE / Retrospektiivi – Marita Liulia

RETROSPECTIVE
April 21, 1999 – June 6, 1999
MARITA LIULIA

The retrospective exhibition of artist Marita Liulia (b. 1957) at the Pori Art Museum presents her four multimedia works from 1991–1999. The centerpiece is her latest CD-ROM artwork, SOB (Son of a Bitch), released in 1999. This work explores the modern, urban Western man, focusing on themes such as the art of being a man, the ideal man of the 21st century, and definitions of masculinity. Other topics include relationships between men and women, fathers and sons, fashion, sexuality, and homophobia. The central figure of the work is a fictional character, psychoanalyst Jack L. Froid.

Jackpot (1991) is Liulia’s first interactive work, functioning as a sociological study and opinion poll using the methods of gambling and conceptual art. By selecting images from three monitors, the user can choose a preferred persona, group, and environment to identify with. Games and tests also play a significant role in Liulia’s more recent works.

The CD-ROM installation Maire (1994) examines Finnish modernism as well as theories and critiques of modernism, inspired by the life’s work of Professor Maire Gullichsen (1907–1990) in Finnish visual arts, architecture, and design. The visual material of the piece is based on the collection of the Maire Gullichsen Art Foundation, housed at the Pori Art Museum. Maire was the first CD-ROM art piece created in the Nordic countries.

Ambitious Bitch (1996) critically and humorously examines the modern Western woman, including the myth of the blonde. This visually rich and surprising CD-ROM artwork addresses themes such as the history of feminism, women’s perversions, eroticism, and fashion. It has received numerous international awards and honors, including Prix Möbius International and Prix Arts Electronica.

What unites Marita Liulia’s works is their interactive nature, engaging the user actively. While offering information and facts, they challenge conventional perceptions of art, the nature of an artwork, gender roles, and social interaction. Liulia’s works have successfully attracted new audiences to contemporary art, art theory, and cultural studies—fields often considered challenging to approach. Their user-friendly nature has also lowered the barrier to engaging with computer-based programs. Marita Liulia’s CD-ROM works can be experienced both on personal computers and as installations in exhibitions, each presented in a format that highlights the unique qualities of the piece.

During the exhibition, the Pori Art Museum will offer Ambitious Bitch and Son of a Bitch CD-ROMs for purchase.

This exhibition reflects Marita Liulia’s long-term collaboration with the Pori Art Museum, particularly during the development of the Maire project. In recognition of her pioneering work with new methods in visual art, Marita Liulia was named the Pori Art Museum’s 1997 Patron of the Year as a gesture of gratitude and encouragement.