Maija Fox's 'Hard Shoulders' at Sinne, Helsinki

Maija Fox's exhibition 'Hard Shoulders' is currently on display at Sinne in Helsinki from 20 March to 10 May 2026. The centerpiece of this solo show is a significant installation named 'through and through,' which incorporates cast brass, cast aluminum, forged steel, and stainless steel elements. Curated by Markus Åström, the piece is inspired by Finland's Highway 4, particularly a motorway bridge that spans a marsh. Fox examines the contrast between the rapid advancement of infrastructure and the slow, deliberate pace of the wetland. Embedded in the installation are cast aluminum replicas of wetland flora—ranunculus, rosehip, mullein, and white water-crowfoot—transforming natural shapes into the language of the road. Metal wire, knitted and woven, resembles plants pushing through asphalt, integrating with a painted road center line. The empty key chains found in the wire pockets symbolize items that once activated machines, now signifying absence. This textile aspect shifts the focus from grandiosity to intimacy. Fox's artistic approach melds craftsmanship, engineering, and artistry, influenced by her rural background and connections to agriculture and heavy industry.