Daniel Palpa: Between Two Rivers

Daniel Palpa’s ceramic sculptures explore manifestations of a dual cultural identity – from a wellspring of creativity to a wasteland of identity.

The artist draws on traditional ceramic forms from the Peru region and blends them with his own everyday experiences. The works comment on today’s concerns through colour and chaotic forms. They highlight the influences of Peruvian and Finnish cultures and the tension between them in the artist’s life.

The works stem from the experience of a bicultural identity. A central dilemma for the artist’s identity has been consolidating the cultures of two continents and their respective histories. The sense of isolation that arose when he arrived in Finland as a child has remained with him ever since, whilst his South American roots have endured and given shape to a third cultural perspective.

This space between two cultures serves as either a source of creativity or a wasteland of identity. What remains is a form of cultural hybrid living that challenges established assumptions and draws on the friction between differing values. The works seek to express the experience of a multi-layered identity, which is familiar to many bicultural children and adults living in Finland.

A guided tour of the exhibition will be held in Finnish Sign Language on Saturday 19 September 2026 at 13.00–14.00.