In the Small Wonders exhibition, hundreds of ceramic pieces spread out into a spectacular pattern.

The ceramic parts used to be living, dried and dead plants that the artist has collected from her yard and the adjacent meadow. They form a huge pattern on the wall, from which close-up details begin to emerge: hundreds of plants and their parts of different colours and shapes. Small wonders are important elements for maintaining biodiversity. They are things you do not notice unless you bend over and stop to look.

“Using clay in my works is a way of honouring nature, which is changing because of climate change, that is, because of mankind. The elements of nature that have changed from clay to ceramics tell about the present moment, about the plants and life in your own yard and the nearby meadow. It is like a plant archive of this moment. However, the works look very different from the real elements of nature. They are a bit bizarre and quirky, almost like straight out of a storybook.”

Anni Honkajuuri is a ceramic artist, teacher and designer from Hämeenlinna. She makes ceramics with nature in mind. It is reflected in the subjects of her works, as well as in their size: the small size is a statement and a more ecological way to make ceramics.

The exhibition was selected for the programme through Annantalo’s open call. During the summer of 2024, 126 applications were submitted, from which Annantalo’s student jury selected three exhibitions for the gallery on the second floor of the building.