ARoS Focus/New Nordic: Jani Leinonen - School of Disobedience

Finnish artist Jani Leinonen (b. 1978) focuses on how art can become a catalyst for political activism with the exhibition School of Disobedience.

Leinonen uses the school classroom as the setting for a performance that questions the passivity that Leinonen believes characterises education. In another series of works, Leinonen uses more recognisable elements such as popular slogans and brands, and he subjects mascots from global companies (such as Ronald McDonald) to kidnapping and decapitation. Leinonen was born out of the ironic distance of the 90s. He is an activist and recognises his own consumption. By utilising familiar visual expressions, Jani Leinonen manages to short-circuit the language of capital.

The exhibition is organised in collaboration with Kiasma, the National Gallery of Finland.

Det Obelske Familiefond