Image Credits
Uzi Varon
Artist Statement
I consider myself an intercultural hybrid—an artist shaped by a spectrum of identities. Rooted in the Khaleeji way of life and its deeply held values, I have also been influenced by a Western education and an eclectic cultural heritage. Now residing in Porvoo, Finland, I embrace an interracial, multicultural life with my family, bringing together the diverse threads of my past. My work delves into the nuances of hybrid identities, the paradoxes of cross-cultural communication, and the rich memories of life across Bahrain, Scotland, Australia, Germany, France and Finland. Each piece I create is a purposeful exploration of paradox, memory, faith, and the beauty of intercultural hybridity.
I take particular pleasure in referring to my current work as "Scandarabian art".
Meri Helmi Särkkä directly translates to 'Sea pearl from a salt water island' It is another way to say 'Bahrain' in Finnish.
Meri Helmi Särkkä, also known as Mariam Haji, is a Bahraini multi-disciplinary fine artist who currently lives and works in Porvoo, Finland.
She primarily works in sculpture, video, and painting. In 2013, she represented the Kingdom of Bahrain at the Venice Biennale, following her first-place win in Bahrain's prestigious Dana Award in 2012. Her debut as "Meri Helmi Särkkä" took place at Helsinki Cathedral in 2022, marking a milestone as Finland's first Arab artist to exhibit large-scale paintings (3m x 1.5m) at this historic site. In 2024, her work was showcased under her new artist name at the Bahrain National Museum, and she was invited to exhibit at the UNESCO World Heritage site Suomenlinna Cathedral, a historic lighthouse near Helsinki, Finland.
In conjunction with her studio practice, she has been invited to lead several international artist talks and workshops including at the Finnish National Museum of Finland, Oodi Library in Helsinki, Finland. Mathaf Arab Museum Of Modern Art in Doha, Qatar; the Ministry of the People's republic of China in Beijing, China; Macgregor State High School, Brisbane, Australia and the Corner College in Zurich,Switzerland.
Her previous work as 'Mariam Haji' is considered a national heritage to her country Bahrain. Her piece titled “Victory” is on permanent public display inside the National Theatre of Bahrain and her work is also included in the permanent art collection of The National Museum of Bahrain. With other collections with the Ministry of Culture in China and private collections in Kuwait.
Up Coming
2025
2025
Solo Myymala2 Helsinki
Solo Le Pave D'orsay, Paris
Contact Me
Hello(at)merihelmisarkka.com