Ángel Barrientos

Ángel Barrientos has been building scale models for his own personal enjoyment and that of his loved ones for several decades – and they are now being exhibited for the very first time. With their rich details, the models invite viewers to immerse themselves in an enchanting world in miniature. Barrientos, who was born in Chile and trained as an interior designer in Finland, plays in his works with the similarities between the two countries’ traditional wooden construction, both in buildings he depicts realistically and with structures enriched by his imagination. The exhibition presents a cross section of his extensive production from 1989 to 2023.

Barrientos was born in 1947 in Buin-Maipo in Central Chile, but for political reasons was forced into exile following Augusto Pinochet’s coup 50 years ago. He arrived in Finland among the first Chilean refugees in January 1974. He lives and works in Helsinki.

The studio is a small, admission-free exhibition space located on the 1st floor of the Museum of Finnish Architecture. In the autumn of 2023, the Finnish Chilean community will organize an exhibition and event series to commemorate the anniversary of the coup. For more information, visit www.chile50.fi

Video: La inspiración de la madera (2021–2022)
Luis Arraño Marchant, Luis Herrera, Ángel Barrientos

Exhibition image: Anni Koponen