Hiilenä Installation by Jaakko Torvinen 04/12/25 – 10/01/26

In December 4th, 2025, Nomen Nescio Store opens its gallery space to the striking installation work of Finnish architect and Aalto University researcher Jaakko Torvinen. We spoke with him about his artistic philosophy, his ongoing exploration of wood, and the stories behind his latest piece, Hiilenä (Charred, 2025).

Hiilenä
Jaakko Torvinen
04/12/25 – 10/01/26
Fredrikinkatu 33, Helsinki
Nomen Nescio Store


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Hi Jaakko, could you tell the Nomen Nescio community a bit about yourself and what you do?

I am an architect and doctoral researcher. During my Aalto University studies, I designed Pikku-Finlandia, a temporary wooden pavilion for Finlandia Hall. Its defining feature was the use of pine trees in their natural, branching forms as structural columns, creating a forest-like architecture. I’ve continued this philosophy in other installations and architectural projects, studying the aesthetic, structural, and ecological potential of naturally shaped, non-standard timber.



What inspired the title of the installation, "Hiilenä"?

The installation features four pine logs, charred to a deep black. These are trees that might otherwise have ended up as firewood or in a pulp mill. By charring them, I reflect on how human activity exploits nature, while also referencing the burnt trees left behind by wildfires, a reminder of the climate crisis.

At the same time, it nods to traditional techniques: in Finland and Europe, wood was sometimes charred to protect it from moisture, and in Japan, the Yakisugi technique preserves siding through charring.

I want viewers to see the diverse beauty of wood: its natural forms and textures are impossible to redesign better or more interestingly. That’s why I use natural timber in my designs — it brings the work to life in a way I could never achieve by hand or with any technical device.

What materials and techniques did you use?

The installation uses Finnish Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) sourced at the same time as we were selecting suitable trees for the construction of Pikku-Finlandia. The logs were debarked and stored for five years before I charred them using a controlled gas flame. It was a careful process: too little fire wouldn’t create enough texture, and too much could make the surface flake. Each log charred slightly differently, creating individual expressions. After charring, the wood was finished with an oil-based matte wax.


Is this work part of a larger exploration of wood?

Yes, it continues my research and experiments with using whole trees or logs as aesthetic or structural elements. In one of my recent projects, I designed a sauna building with charred, branching pines as structural elements.


How did your collaboration with Nomen Nescio come about?

I wanted to bring my work into a new environment, to share art and research where people are already present.


Which values do you feel you share with Nomen Nescio?

Minimalism, for sure. Less is more: the charred logs are restrained but full of detail on closer inspection. I also share values of timelessness, responsibility, quiet aesthetics, locality, a slower pace, and respect for natural materials.


What do you hope visitors experience?

I hope people pause and marvel. I hope them to see the logs as characters, as I do. In Hiilenä, the four wood figures interact: a pair leans on each other, one points at another with a branch finger, and one stands solidly on its own. Each has its own personality, and each charred slightly differently.