ArtHouse Jersey at Capital House introduces Dancing Together: A Ballad, a new exhibition by acclaimed Finnish artist Kaarina Kaikkonen. This installation is a reimagining of Kaikkonen's public artwork Dancing Together, initially displayed at Charing Cross in St. Helier over the summer. The original piece featured over 700 shirts donated by Jersey residents, symbolising shared memories and community spirit.
In the new gallery setting, Kaikkonen's installation becomes more personal, inviting viewers to engage with the intimate stories each garment represents. The artist describes the piece as a "ballad", inspired by the storytelling nature of medieval songs, which evolved into the love ballads of today. Each shirt holds individual memories, creating a collective expression of human experience, memory, and loss.
Kaarina Kaikkonen, known for her shirt installations worldwide, has created pieces in diverse locations, from Shanghai to Madrid and Santiago, adapting her work to each setting's architecture, history, and social context. Her work across galleries, museums, and outdoor spaces recycles materials to capture a sense of time, memory, and shared humanity.
Dancing Together: A Ballad is open to the public until Sunday 1st December, with visiting hours from 10:30 to 18:00 every day except Mondays. Admission is free, offering an opportunity for everyone to experience Kaikkonen's exploration of Jersey’s community fabric in this powerful exhibit.
Dancing Together and Dancing Together: A Ballad are the inaugural artworks in the Butterfield Public Art Series sponsored by Butterfield and produced by ArtHouse Jersey.
