I N V A D E R S II

M E L A N C H O L I A

P H O S P H O R U S  M I R A B I L I S

For the first time, there was no winter. No snow cover across southern Finland. Global warming has left the fields lying black and the sky coming down as rain. As a consequence five times more phosphorus fertilizer runoff has escaped into our waterways, and polluting our sea.

Phosphorus ( greek. “light-bearer” ) was discovered in 1669 in Hamburg by alchemists, who believed it to be connected to the philosopher’s stone. The 13th element, it is often jokingly called the devil’s element. A  reference to its period number and foul smell. But it is no joke, our ever increasing desire for greater yields is poisoning the sea.

I N V A D E R S

Invaside species have run riot and catastrofically increased in number, destroying native flora, fauna, and habitats. To add insult to injury, in order to solve the pest problem, humans have purposely imported more foreign species to act as natural predators. 

M E A D O W

Meadows are one of the most endangered environment types across Europe, with only 5% of meadows still left in Finland and less than 1% in many countries such as Britain. Our most delicate native flowers now struggle to live as refugees along ditches, roadsides and abandoned plots. Are these the next names to end up on the endangered species list?

The names of the paintings were inspired by the poetry of Edith Södergran.



F U R S C A P E S