The FCINY's Artists-in-Residence 2023

The Finnish Cultural Institute in New York is pleased to announce the selection of curators, designers, and artists for its new 2023 residency programs.

This year the Institute will host curator Sini Rinne-Kanto, artist Paola Fernanda Guzmán Figueroa, and designers Sanni Wessman and Aoi Yoshizawa. The architectural residents will be chosen later in the year.

The Institute’s independent residency program has been supporting Finnish artists, architects and designers in New York since the 1990’s. The new residency programs are focused on artistic dialogue and cultural exchange in addition to individual artistic research and creative work. Each residency includes housing, access to a local hosting organization, travel, and a monthly compensation. 

The local partners, Residency Unlimited, Industry City + WantedDesign International Design Residency, and The Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture at The Cooper Union, will help the artists-in-residence immerse themselves in the cultural landscape of New York, and support the artists with contacts to the local creative communities and professional networks.

Curator Sini Rinne-Kanto seeks to create new curatorial and artistic engagements with local artistic communities and use extensively diverse archival resources based in New York. She will continue her multidisciplinary research that situates at the intersection of visual arts, and design sociology, looking into the notions of collective memories and identities across cultural, aesthetic, artisanal and industrial practices. Her residency is organized in collaboration with Residency Unlimited.

Designer Sanni Wessman, who is staying at the FCINY and WantedDesign International Residencies, aims to seek new inspiration for her creative practice to evolve her own visual world. Based on these new finds and ideas she will create a concept for her very first solo exhibition.

Artist Paola Fernanda Guzmán Figueroa will work on the continuation of her animation film which focuses on her grandmother as well as deals with issues around mobility, family relationships, and aging. Throughout her work, Paola explores the narratives and lived realities of her family and the distance with her relatives. Paola will develop part of her work in collaboration with Mono No Aware, a film community in Brooklyn. Guzmán’s residency is organized in collaboration with Residency Unlimited.

Designer Aoi Yoshizawa will investigate hand-weaving techniques in the context of NYC. Based on new findings, she will continue with material and technical experimentations of hand-weaving techniques.

PARTICIPANTS IN THE FCINY’S RESIDENCY PROGRAMS IN 2023:

Sini Rinne-Kanto, curator (February-March 2023)
Sanni Wessman, designer (May-June 2023)
Paola Fernanda Guzmán Figueroa, artist (July-August 2023)
Aoi Yoshizawa, designer (September-October 2023)