Kristiina Lehtonen

I believe my images speak better than I do, so I usually leave that task to them, but if I were to say something about the technique and content for this exhibition:

The technique of metal etching immediately resonated with me from the first trial. While working, I don’t envision the final print in my mind; I simply carry out the technique step by step. When the work is finally finished, it feels like receiving a gift. Only then do I see what the image truly looks like, and that is a large part of the charm of metal etching for me.

Line etching, aquatint, and soft ground are the techniques I use most often. I typically work with 1-3 plates, from which I achieve the necessary colors and shades for the work. I don’t have the energy to print more plates at once, and I have already used a printmaker in larger series so that I can focus more on creating paintings. The technique I use and my style are so slow due to the details that the expected length of my lifetime (30-40 years?) likely won’t be enough to bring all my current drawer ideas to light. But I’ll do as much as I can.

The most common comment about my paintings has been that they put people in a good mood. Sometimes, in my exhibitions, I’ve heard people say, “The artist must be such a wonderful person.” This greatly amuses (or saddens?) my loved ones, who know what a wild boar I truly am. I just do what “comes to me,” like raspberries. The berries are fine, but the bush itself is a thorny tangle. I’m actually a basic pessimist who worries, and I couldn’t bear this world sober without God. Perhaps that’s why I create cheerful images in contrast, depicting the world as I think it should be: a happy, beautiful, calm, and safe place. My images are, in their own twisted way, a protest, a response to all the dark and senseless evil in the world.

So now I want to say to you as well: forget all your worries for a moment and enjoy the exhibition!

Sincerely, Kristiina Lehtonen

This text was created with AI assistance