The ghostly objects in Jósefina Alanko’s exhibition embody layered symbolism through their choice of materials and techniques. At first glance, the soft surfaces of cotton rope and white linen invite a sense of closeness and warmth. These tactile textures draw the viewer in, their delicate forms suggesting something approachable yet mysterious.

These ghosts embody fears, memories, and lost guidance, appearing different to everyone but offering a singular message to each viewer. By confronting these apparitions, Alanko suggests, we might not only face our anxieties but also find unexpected guidance within them. Her works blur the line between haunting and healing, weaving a narrative of hope and self-discovery within the layers of fear.

Chains, woven into the work, represent the weight of the past—the burdens and traumas we carry with us, often unseen but ever-present. Their presence contrasts with the softness of the textiles, grounding the ethereal and pointing toward the struggles tied to memory and history.

Beneath the painted surfaces, hidden by reflective glass, lies the invisible—the human body as a concept in the artist’s practice. This reflective element creates a dual experience: during daylight, the painted surfaces remain concealed, but in the darkness, when illuminated by a flashlight, they emerge. This reveals the hidden, the unseen parts of our experiences and selves, only visible when the conditions are right, much like ghosts themselves.

Together, these materials and techniques form a dialogue between the past, present, and unseen, capturing the complexity of invisible bodies and the weight they carry.