Professori Eva Ryynänen | |
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![]() Eeva Ryynänen in 1969 | |
Born | Eva Åsenbrygg 15 June 1915 |
Died | 18 October 2001 | (aged 86)
Alma mater | Academy of Fine Arts, Helsinki |
Known for | Wood sculpture |
Eva Ryynänen ( née Åsenbrygg; 15 June 1915 — 18 October 2001) was a Finnish sculptor known especially for her work in wood. [1] [2]
Ryynänen studied at the Academy of Fine Arts (now part of the University of the Arts Helsinki) from 1934 to 1939. [1] [2]
Her debut solo exhibition was in 1940. [1] Her breakthrough came in 1974, as a result of an exhibition at the Amos Anderson Art Museum in Helsinki, and a national tour following it. [1]
She created in total c. 500 works, of which approximately 50 are in collections outside Finland. [3]
She is especially known for her numerous wooden sculptures, reliefs and wood carvings housed in many Finnish churches. [2] She also worked extensively with bronze and marble. [1]
Her perhaps most famous creation is the Paateri church in North Karelia, which she built in 1989-1991 entirely of wood. She sculpted everything, including individually designed pews; the altar is an upturned root cluster of a pine tree. [1]
In 1977, Ryynänen was awarded the Pro Finlandia medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland. [1] [4]
In 1998, the honorary title of Professori was conferred on Ryynänen by the President of Finland. [1] [3]
She also received the Kalevala 150th anniversary medal in 1985, as well as numerous other awards. [3]