DIALOGI / DIALOGUE

11.1.–2.2.2025 

Varikko Gallery, Kalevantie 6 B, Seinäjoki

In my recent paintings, the themes of dialogue and the human body take center stage. The figures portrayed are highly physical and corporeal, full of movement and energy. They invite the viewer to contemplate questions about humanity: What does it mean to be human? What is humanity? How about femininity or masculinity and their relationship to one another? My paintings invite the viewer to observe them from various distances. The somewhat suggestive figures stand out when viewed from afar, while the different painting surfaces require close inspection. The industrial, repetitive pattern-like surface structure of the paintings is in dialogue with the painterly, organic, and lively form language. Through these many different juxtapositions and subjects, a dialogue emerges between the past, present, artist, painting, and viewer, revealing new dimensions and depths with each viewing, enriching the viewer's own experiences.

I spent September 2024 in the artist residency of the Finnish Institute in Athens, Greece, where I drew inspiration for my paintings from the world of classicism and antiquity. Ancient sculptures, the built surfaces of city blocks, the surface structures of ancient ceramics, and the intense light of Greece inspired my painting process. During my residency, I captured what I saw with ink on paper, which later served as the basis for my actual paintings in Finland.

As part of the exhibition, a public survey allows viewers to concretely reflect on the thoughts and emotions evoked by my paintings through their own experiences. Through the survey responses, I can understand how my works have impacted viewers' experiences and draw conclusions from them. The survey is voluntary, and responses can be submitted anonymously by filling out the questionnaire in the gallery. 

My paintings' central themes have been humanity, the struggles of the human mind and body, flourishing and decay – a touch of decadence. I have explored these themes about my world of sensations and experiences as a woman in this time and world and reflected on my spiritual and physical relationship with nature, my environment, and other people. As an artist, I convey my own experiences to the viewers through my paintings, thus participating in the shaping of the world and the experiences of others. Through my paintings, I awaken my and the viewer's emotions to a level of consciousness that can be processed. Creating and presenting art is a game of reflection and communication, as happiness always springs from connection with other people.