29 April 2026 – 26 May 2026
GAP Window is pleased to present its ninth exhibition, Touch of The Northern Air: Mirages, opening on 29 April 2026. Continuing the project’s commitment to transforming public space into a site of reflection and dialogue, this exhibition brings together a series of aquarelle works shaped by subconscious improvisation and a deep engagement with the Nordic environment.
About the Exhibition
Touch of The Northern Air: Mirages explores the invisible yet powerful presence of air as a force that shapes human experience. Air is approached not only as a source of breathing, but as nourishment for cognitive, emotional, and mental life. It is a constant presence that influences the individual in ways both subtle and profound, reminding us that human beings remain inseparable from nature.
The works are inspired by the stillness and contrasts of the Finnish atmosphere, where freshness and illusion coexist. Through fluid aquarelle techniques and intuitive mark making, the exhibition captures fleeting impressions and moments of perception that exist between reality and imagination. These compositions appear as suspended fragments of experience, reflecting both the outer landscape and inner emotional states.
Developed over several years, the series emerges from a process of immersion into Finnish culture, language, and environment. The works can be seen as an abstract interpretation of northern nature, as well as an attempt to understand and visualize the qualities that shape the Finnish character and sense of place. Through this process, the artist suggests that connection to environment can transform perception, artistic language, and even the rhythm of life itself.
At its core, the exhibition is also a quiet reflection on preservation. The unique qualities of the northern air and environment are presented as something fragile and essential, calling attention to the need to protect these elements for the future.
About the Artist
Olesya Fokina is a multidisciplinary artist based in the capital region of Finland. Born in Russia into a creative family, her early exposure to art shaped a lifelong curiosity and commitment to creative practice. She graduated from the N.P. Shlein Art School in Kostroma in 1995, where her work was already gaining international recognition, including participation in exhibitions in England and Finland.
She later studied artistic material processing and jewelry at the Kostroma State Technological University, while also working as an illustrator for a local newspaper. Her professional path expanded into journalism, cultural administration, and media, culminating in a Master’s degree in socio cultural service and tourism.
Fokina’s diverse background includes training in audiovisual arts, theater, pedagogy, and translation, and she has worked as an actress, interpreter, and educator. She has also represented Finland in the finals of international art competitions.
Her current artistic practice focuses on intuitive processes and sensory experience, incorporating elements such as movement, air, and environmental perception. Through her work, she seeks to explore the inner world of both nature and human character, often accompanied by narrative and spiritual reflections.
Now based in Finland, which she considers her second homeland, Fokina continues to engage with intercultural dialogue and artistic exchange. Her work reflects a desire to build connections between cultures while contributing to the evolving landscape of Finnish contemporary art.
In the GAP Window
Presented in the GAP Window, Touch of The Northern Air: Mirages transforms the public space of Malminkatu into a place of quiet contemplation. The exhibition invites passersby to slow down and reflect on the unseen forces that shape perception, identity, and connection to place.
Visit the Exhibition
GAP Window
Malminkatu 5, Helsinki
On view from 29 April to 26 May 2026
Visible day and night
Open to all
Touch of The Northern Air: Mirages invites viewers to experience the subtle, shifting presence of air, memory, and imagination woven into the northern landscape.
GAP WINDOW is a window exhibition project initiated by Globe Art Point in 2021. The concept was created for the members of GAP Creatives Database with an aim to provide a unique opportunity to exhibit and/or experiment with their own artistic work and ideas.
Our window is visible from the street, you do not need a special access to see it.