Jani Ruscica was born in 1978 in Savonlinna, Finland and currently lives and works in Helsinki. He obtained an MFA from the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts, Helsinki in 2007, a BFA from the Chelsea College of Art and Design, London in 2002, and a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design from the Camberwell College of Arts, London in 1999. He attended residencies at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, the Camden Arts Centre in London, and De Ateliers in Amsterdam.
Ruscica's application of video, photography, and sculpture exact a compelling exploration into the intersections of cinema, video art, theatre and performance. He is interested in how one defines one’s location, one’s placement in the world, and how this definition changes – continuously if necessary – according to personal, cultural, representational or even scientific factors. Ruscica's practice articulates an expansive narrative of collective perception when temporal chronology is paralleled with biographical deductions of the contemporary zeitgeist.
The “continuous present” is the overarching theme of his work (and title of a past exhibit), which refers to Gertrude Stein’s conception of humanity’s interpretive interplay with time. Stated simply: “Continuous present is one thing and beginning again and again is another thing. These are both things. And then there is using everything.” It is not a bureaucratic attempt to interpret the meaning of such “things” for the audience. Instead, Ruscica implores the audience to take the idea of “using everything” in the present and at each new beginning in order to recreate the myth of the self and its relationship with history, geopolitical boarders, and cultural philosophy.
Recent exhibitions include: Found in Translation - Chapter L, 5th Momentum Biennial, Casino Luxembourg, Moss, Norway (2014); Life Forms, Bonniers Konsthall, Stockholm (2014); Space Release#16 - Scene Shifts in Six Movements, CIRCA Projects, Newcastle (2013); Conversation in Pieces (Pt.1), Galerie Anhava, Helsinki (2013); Parallel Acts, Otto Zoo Gallery, Milan (2010): Travelogue, Camden Arts Centre, London (2010).
Recent group exhibitions include: I See You, Kunsthalle Detriot, Museum of Contemporary Art (2013); Cumulus Olympia, Kunsthall Grenland, Porsgrunn, Norway (2013); Found in Translation, Chapter M, at Natalie's Place' Art Brussels (2013); Sounding Selves, Dalhousie University Art Gallery, Halifax, Canada (2012); Travelogue, Louis Vuitton Store, Rome (2012); Me, You, We and the Others, Museo Civico di Reggio, 7th European Photography Festival, Reggio, Italy (2012).
In addition to presenting screenings in institutions such as Centre Pompidou, Paris, TATE Modern, London and MoMA, New York, Roscica is the recipient of a five-year grant from the Arts Council of Finland, the Norwegian Fremtids Blikket Award for “Best Innovative Film,” and the Cartier Award at Frieze Art Fair, London. His works are held in such institutions as the Centre Pompidou, Musée national d'art moderne, Paris, Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art, Helsinki, State Art Collection, Finland, and The Finnish-Institute in London.
For additional information about this artist, visit Mutual Art
