This Difficult Life – Pasi Vainionpää

The theme of my exhibition is “this difficult life.” My approach is psychological; I am interested in the subconscious and psychic phenomena, and our different ways of reacting to the ups and downs of life. The starting point for the works is often personal, but during the process, they hopefully take on more universal shades.

My works have sometimes been seen as having a social or political stance, but that has not been the primary starting point; it has come almost as an incidental aspect, one possible interpretation. Instead, I aim to portray the mental state of the individual. I have, however, sought interpretive layering. I hope that my works also convey self-irony and humor, even though there is a serious underlying tone. The presentation is often narrative and metaphorical. The best outcome is if the works serve as a catalyst for the viewer’s own stories.

My works are ceramic sculptures, reliefs, and installations. The material is mostly coarse clay with chamotte, sometimes enriched with other materials. Many of the works have a dark, somewhat metallic surface created by a glaze of my own development.

This text was created with AI assistance.