INVISIBLE (NÄKYMÄTÖN) 2020-
Maria Ylikoski’s current project Invisible draws upon the legacy of her aunt, Ester Markkola, who worked for over 30 years as President Urho Kekkonen’s housemaid. Ester’s responsibilities included managing the presidential couple’s wardrobe, overseeing their private quarters and serving evening tea. She also traveled with the presidential couple on over 20 state visits. Ester was one of those women whose role was to remain invisible — labouring behind the scenes. Ylikoski endeavours to craft a portrait that renders visible the fascinating life of her aunt.
Assuming the role of archivist or curator, the artist assembles narratives from archival materials and objects once belonging to her aunt. The exhibited works so far feature items such as gloves, scarves, detachable collars, curtains, boxes, paper wraps, bedlinen and archival film and photographs, through which Ylikoski reconstructs a fragmented portrait employing photography, video, and installation art.
In creating these works, Ylikoski contemplates themes related to performance, the interplay between what occurs in front of and behind the stage curtain—the spaces Ester inhabited by dressing the head of state. Although Ester remained firmly behind the curtain, the results of her meticulous work—carefully selected scarves and gloves, perfectly matched ties, and well-fitted suits—were ever-present whenever different worlds collided, from state visits, negotiations, dinners, and skiing trips alike.
Ester fascinates Ylikoski, particularly because she refused to be photographed and rarely spoke about her life to anyone. Ester is an invisible figure in history — a mystery. To Ylikoski, she resembles an undeveloped negative.
FRAME (KEHYS) 2024
Nine Photographs of detachable collars
Archival pigment print, coffee tinted birch shelf
Size 50 x 30 x 5cm
INVISIBLE (NÄKYMÄTÖN) 2024
After combing through hundreds of film documents across various archives, two video clips of aunt Ester were found. These images are featured in the video Näkymätön (Invisible).
Video, SD, 1 min 40 sec
Source of the material: Vierailu Intiassa, 1965 (Yle arkisto), Ajankuva,1970, (Yle arkisto)
IN BETWEEN (EDESSÄ-VÄLISSÄ-TAKANA) 2024
Installation, two golden curtains and curtain rods
Size 250 x 240 x 130cm
SCARVES (HUIVEJA) 2024
Scarves is a short film that centers on Ester’s preserved scarves — objects she either salvaged, received as gifts, or acquired herself. In this piece, Ester recounts her memories of these scarves in an audio recording Ylikoski created while exploring the collection. Photographs were not allowed. The soundscape moves through the rooms of Tamminiemi, the former presidential residence. Meanwhile, events from the outside world filter in: Nikita Khrushchev addressing the UN, John F. Kennedy welcoming President Kekkonen to America, and Kekkonen articulating Finland’s policy of neutrality.
The piece draws inspiration from a 1956 photograph by U.A.Saarinen, depicting a woman shaking out laundry on the Tamminiemi balcony.
Source of the still-image: UA Saarinen, Journalistinen kuva-arkisto JOKA, Museovirasto. Source of archive sound: Yle arkisto.
Video, HD (original 4K), stereo, 9 min 24 sec
Language Finnish, English subtitles
WRAPPING PAPER (KÄÄRE) 2024
Photographs of papers used to protect delicate things such as silverware, jewelry and gloves.
Archival pigment prints
Size 55 x 45cm
ACCORDING TO ETIQUETTE (ETIKETIN MUKAAN) 2024
Nine pairs of gloves that were worn in official state visits and documentary photographs of the same gloves in use.
The photographs are from UKK archive and JOKA Press Photo Archive. The work also includes an audio narrative told by Ester.
Mixed media, gloves framed in boxes, archival pigment prints, sound.
Framed gloves size 30 x 30cm
Framed photographs, sizes 30 x 25cm, 30 x 30cm, 30 x 35cm
TROUSSEAU (KAPIOT) 2024
Letters that Ester wrote to her sister and mother when traveling around the world, now embroidered on trousseau (cotton sheets with lace) that she herself has sewn and crocheted the lace for.
STORAGE (SÄILÖ) 2024
Installation consisting of cigar, chocolate, jewelry, wine, perfume and hat boxes, boxes for photographs, underwear and biscuits, objects such as a book, an alarm clock, state visit schedules, a wall plate, a hare´s foot, badges, a bottle of liquor, a shell and a miniature backpack made of birchbark.