2023

Sasha Huber and Petri Saarikko are Helsinki-based artists who have been working on the Remedies project since 2010, exploring methods of self-help and medicinal healing in different geographical and cultural contexts.   

For Helsinki Biennial 2023, the artists created a new site-specific installation marking the continuation of their ongoing project. The work was experienced by standing on the shore of one of the two freshwater ponds on Vallisaari Island.

Originally excavated by the army to serve as a freshwater well during Russian occupation, the artificial pond has since evolved into its own ecosystem, becoming an important hub for wellness, recreation, and joy for the inhabitants of the island – both humans and others.

The installation is accompanied by a short verse that raises questions about the landscape as a backdrop for human intervention. Is human presence an essential element of the island? Is it merely part of the riddle, perhaps a recipe, or a drug?