Background;

Sirpa Alalaakkola, born in Alatornio, Finland, started her artist career while still a student.

In the late 80's she became know of her postmodern version of a famous Gallen Kallela painting "Aino", when she was just 23 years old.

She graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Helsinki 1990.

She was awarded a prestigious Fulbright scholarship to do postgraduate studies at New York University.

After studies Sirpa traveled painting and exhibiting in India, the Pacific Islands and Australia creating paintings of different cultures and people. The last decade she has been living and working in New Zealand.

1998 the Museum of Contemporary Art in Helsinki ( Kiasma) invited her as a guest artist for the grand opening of the museum. She was one of only nine invited artist, her being the only painter. For this exhibition she created a series of portrait paintings of new immigrants to Finland, called "Lives and Works in Finland".

2002 Aine Art Museum  in Tornio invited her as a guest artist to exhibit as the artist of the year. Sirpa settled in the Artist in Residence in Tornio to create a series of paintings of Finland, mainly Tornio River Valley scenes. This exhibition turned out to be a very popular event.

For all her career Sirpa's style has been big bold and colorful. People are the main focus of paintings, either portraits of caricature style. She is one of the most recognized artists in Lapland with artworks in various collections around the world including the Museum of Contemporary Art in Helsinki ( Kiasma) with 6 of her paintings in their collection.

Currently;

Sirpa has been painting in Lapland since March this year. This body of work is based on the Sirpa's experiences in Lapland over the past few years and will be on display at Hotel Hullu Poro in September. There will be paintings of muscular men running the autumn marathon as well as scenes of big bottom ladies doing their Nordic walking exercise and other humoristic scenes.

This exhibition is a starting point for Sirpa's work in Lapland.  She and her New Zealand husband Paul Palmer and their two children Zack , 8 and Zara, 6, are currently living near Levi and the children are enjoying finnish school with the local children.

Name of the exhibition: "Everyman's Song"

Place; Hotel Hullu Poro, the main foyer,  Levi, Finland

Time; 1.9-30.9 2007

Artist will be present; 7-9. Of September -07 , 3-7pm or by appointment

Tel; 040-7766099

art@sirpa.com

www.sirpa.com