Finn Kaarina Kaikkonen's exhibition is the latest in a series of work commissioned by Fabrica, giving artists the chance to respond to the former church's history.

Kaikkonen's response is an enormous boat created from rope and 500 men's second-hand jackets.

The boat stretches from the front of the building (starting with an old captain's jacket at the bow) to the stained glass windows at the back.

Kaikkonen says the boat is symbolic of life.

One end of the vessel is tangible and human, the other beyond reach in the heights and light of the stained glass.

"This creates the impression of reaching Heaven and so represents man's metaphysical journey," says the gifted artist.

Kaikkonen uses other materials in her work.

She has used birch trees and potato sacks but jackets are her favourite because they have a strong personal association for her.

She once used 3,200 of them for a piece outside Helsinki Cathedral.

"I think all my work with jackets deal with the existence of a human being, or rather my idea of it," she says.

"I like the feeling of an old jacket, the feeling of someone having worn it."

The exhibition will be accompanied by a talk by the artist on Sunday from 1pm to 2pm.

There will also be exhibition tours and family activities, including workshops.

It's open from Monday to Saturday, 11.30am to 6pm, and Sunday from 2pm to 6pm.

Call 01273 778646 for further details on the exhibition.

Preview by Sonia Reid, features@theargus.co.uk