“Behind Blue Eyes II” – Marjo Helenius and Kaija Hinkula

An exhibition at Poriginal Gallery featuring the graphic works and paintings of two young artists.

Graphic artist Marjo Helenius (b. 1983) and painter Kaija Hinkula (b. 1984) share a common background from their studies at Saimaa University of Applied Sciences, where they graduated as visual artists in 2008. Prior to that, they both studied at The Liminka School of Arts. They both live and work in Oulu.

Marjo Helenius’ graphic prints explore the contradictions between reality and the images projected by outer appearances. In her works, female figures reflected through mirrors serve as mediators of emotions, assumptions, and false images. The world that opens up around the mirrors and within frames acts as a metaphor for the true nature of a person, their inner world. These works are created using metal graphics techniques.

Kaija Hinkula’s paintings address the theme of the future and ignorance.

In her works, Hinkula approaches the feelings of exploring the world, guessing, and waiting, often choosing children at the beginning of their lives as the central figures. The children are typically depicted alone, interacting with an allusive environment. This approach combines both representational and abstract elements in the brushstrokes, alternating and leaning into one another. The technique used is oil paint and charcoal on canvas. All of the works in the exhibition were created during a winter residency at the Art Center Salmela in the fall of 2009.

Behind Blue Eyes II continues the collaboration between Helenius and Hinkula from their previous joint exhibition in the fall of 2009.

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