Decode – Oil Paintings, Pia Salo

Decode – to decipher, interpret, clarify

My exhibition Decode consists of oil paintings based on messages. I have embedded coded text, words, and poems into the structure of the images. Even though the works contain a verbal message that may seem overwhelming to interpret, they can—and should—be viewed simply as paintings, as visual artworks. The figures in the paintings are simplified, identity-stripped women through whom I aim to convey the emotions evoked by the texts.

The constant rush and flood of information that surrounds us may weaken our ability to see beyond the surface of things.
What happens to human insight, independent thought, and self-perception when all the answers in the world are just one click away—pre-digested and always available?

These works stand as a counterstatement to the “everything here, now, immediately” culture of our time, as decoding the hidden texts requires patience and time. Through these concealed messages, I want to reflect on the significance of patience and silence and challenge the viewer to pause and look beyond the surface.

This text was created with AI assistance.