Mark Aitken
Sisu
20th July – 31st August 2025
Special event on August 21st 7-9pm, Mark Aitken will be ‘in conversation’ with Zelda Cheatle, a well known curator and editor of photography http://www.zeldacheatle.com
Sisu is a mixed-media documentary art work about loss, memory and renewal. Following the death of my brother in 2021, I moved to Lapland in Finland. I met Finnish and Sámi artists, photographers, teachers, reindeer herders, doctors, farmers, academics and film makers. Their recurring memories of loss are snagged on experiences of domestic murder, suicide, addiction, mental illness and the unforgiving terrain of Lapland. Yet, these people persist through a constant process of renewal. Together, we explored dynamics between human and non-human lives – relationships to what’s both inside and outside of ourselves.
The Finnish word Sisu is about resolve in the face of adversity – especially when failure is likely. It’s about not giving up. Sisu defines the people I’ve worked with, the stories I’ve heard and the struggles to articulate them.
Works include two films, a book and a photography exhibition. Supported by the Finnish Cultural Foundation and a Kone Arts Fellowship at the Helsinki Collegium of Advanced Studies.
Bio
Mark Aitken's art work takes place through collaborative documentary encounters. Working with themes of loss and renewal, he evidences memory defined by emotional truths and ineffable experiences.
Mark works with mixed-media - including film, photography, writing, sound works, installations and radio. Collaborating with people to produce emotionally resonant outcomes, Mark's practice spans over 20 years and is unified yet diverse - at home in galleries, cinemas, site-specific installations, television and radio. Born in New Zealand and raised in South Africa, he currently lives in London and Helsinki.
