PAINTINGS – Reijo Kärkkäinen and Riikka Viinikanoja

Reijo Kärkkäinen

On display: paintings and drawings.
Key themes: line, story, uncertainty, subconscious, emotional impact, color, black and white, chaos, tension, humor, melancholy, politics, popular culture, personal expression.

Drawings are like a diary, a momentary glimpse into thoughts. The process: I revisit and rework, taking my time. Installation—I bring them together and let them converse with each other!
In paintings, time freezes, and the line becomes part of the field, living as a shape. I consider color and space.

Riikka Viinikanoja

The patterns in my paintings are inspired by the weaves of fabrics and curtains—the different colors and thicknesses of the threads—as well as their printed designs. Color plays a crucial role in my work. It is the reason I paint with the egg tempera technique, which brings out colors in a unique way. The technique also makes the painting process itself focused and calm, leaving the artist’s hand visible in the final work.

I use models or sketches when working. It is fascinating to observe how the starting point evolves and what emerges as the painting progresses. The final result is like a puzzle. For a long time, I have used textiles as the subject of my paintings. It is a familiar theme from everyday surroundings, offering endless possibilities for exploration.

My latest paintings are inspired by fabric-based, sewn sketchbooks. Working within a familiar theme has pushed me forward. At first, I needed a sketch for an abstract painting—sewing was the most natural way to create one. But over time, the need for a sketch has diminished. Now, the painting emerges without one. Something has been achieved: although I still use fabric scraps, I now sew a book page after finishing the painting. The painting has become the sketch. The theme keeps evolving.

The starting point for my latest paintings was a string of pearls. Where does it begin, and where does it end? Every pearl is needed. Yet even if one is missing, the string does not break—the thread inside holds it together. Thoughts dive into DNA, ancestry, the cycle of life. The string can break, causing the pearls to fall, but they do not disappear.

This text was created with AI assistance.