PAINTINGS- Sini-Meri Hedberg, Reija Palo-oja
In the downstairs gallery of Poriginal, Reija Palo-oja’s (b. 1970) paintings from the series Polku / Pojalle (2011–2012) are on display, alongside four small paintings from the series Valo from this year. Reija Palo-oja has long been interested in the relationship between the three-dimensional space of painting and the picture plane. The paintings are concretely built up from multiple thin layers of paint, suggestive imagery, and painting gestures. In her works, Palo-oja seeks experiences that carry a strong presence, but at the same time something very fragile and tactile. The origins of the works are often highly personal, making the paintings meaningful touchpoints more generally as well.
In the Polku / Pojalle series, the landscape unfolds in distinct layers. Flowing spaces gradually open up, guiding the viewer from one atmosphere to another. The landscape in the paintings is both powerfully present in places and, in others, immaterial and airy. The landscape also offers diverse possibilities for executing the concept of painting itself.
The new works from the Valo series suggest change. The pieces are composed of seemingly random light spots and overpainted/erased layers of glaze. The intensely bright shimmering light spots, various spatial outlines, and the layering of colors bring depth to the works. In these pieces, the symbolic meaning of light is emphasized.
Upstairs, artist Sini-Meri Hedberg (b. 1972) has recently explored waves in her paintings, using acrylics and oils. Hedberg’s painting style is quick, and in the early stages of the process, chance acts as an inspiring force. She builds the image by exploring variations of color and movement. The gestures that emerge on the canvas guide the painting toward its final form.
“The moods in my paintings change like waves. Sometimes there are surges, other times calm. My work is driven by questions about my ever-changing selves and the human being who surrenders to emotions, the individual struggling in the whirlpools of events and time. The movement of waves and its analogy to life itself is the core of my painting process.”
Translated with ChatGPT, Translated with Copilot