HELSINKI, FINLAND.- Kunsthalle Helsinki presents Seppo Renvall, on view through 5 June, 2005. Seppo Renvall (b. 1963) is one of the leading video artists in Finland and a pioneer of Finnish experimental cinema. His extensive production includes films, videos, photographs, installations and happenings. Work by this internationally acclaimed artist has been screened at film festivals and exhibitions all over the world, and has also featured in Venice (1999) and at the São Paulo (2002) Biennials. The Kunsthalle exhibition shows short films and videos by Renvall from 1991–2005, as well as video installations. Also included are Renvall's major photographic series from the 1990s, many of them made with pinhole cameras.

The imagery of Renvall's films is already apparent in his early photographic work, but the mainstay of his production consists of black-and-white short films. Renvall is also responsible for the first experimental feature-length film in Finland, FILM1999 (2000). The work combines many elements typical of Renvall's films: abstracted imagery, home videos and random documentation, which build up into a story that avoids conventional narrative structures and follows its own logic. Many of Renvall's works are about very ordinary events. In fact, the artist says that he only makes art from the reality he knows and is familiar with personally. The works also attest to Renvall's genuine interest in people. In many of them, the depiction of private experience succeeds in revealing something genuine about humanity in general.

Renvall's works often recycle found visual material, such as discarded family snapshots or 8mm family films. One of his most recent pieces, Woody (2003), builds upon films shot by the artist's father. Woody was originally produced as a music video for Mira Calix. Renvall likes to combine experimental music and images in his works, or illustrate old Finnish hymns or folk songs – music not ordinarily heard on music videos. Sometimes the artist even performs his works to the accompaniment of live music.

Renvall is known for happenings made together with artists and experts from a variety of different fields. With his brother Markus Renvall, he has produced The Ball Show (1998–2001), a happening/installation that makes use of disco balls, images projected via the balls onto walls, sounds, and all manner of gadgets and machines. The show itself is born from the interaction between the artists and the audience. Another happening that has attracted attention abroad is Sauna (1998–), a portable sauna made up of a tent and a barrel, a work of art that invites people to bathe while investigating the core of Finnish identity.

Renvall's works are also informed by a social and political consciousness that stems from private experience. In his early short films he commented on the Winter War (1939–40), popular notions of the world and other people, or hidden ideological agendas in, for example, early 20th century textbooks. Renvall also takes a critical attitude towards commercial cinema and television, and the idea of man propagated by them.

A catalogue entitled Seppo Renvall is published in conjunction with the exhibition. Edited by Susanna Santala and Maija Tanninen-Mattila, the book includes articles by the editors, as well as Tiina Erkintalo, Elina Heikka and Kirsi Väkiparta.

The exhibition Seppo Renvall is produced by Kunsthalle Helsinki, Finland. The exhibition is curated by Susanna Santala and Maija Tanninen-Mattila. The exhibition is supported by FRAME, Finnish Fund for Art Exchange and Pro AV Saarikko. Seppo Renvall-exhibition was on display in Charlottenborg Udstillingsbygning, Copenhagen September 4-26, 2004.