We have known the terror and still not stopped! – Antti Immonen, Jussi Meuronen
Our motivation for making art stems from an interest in imagined worlds and ideas. We want to take the viewer on a journey into this same experience: the world can only be understood if we comprehend the purpose of information coming from different sources—often, the role of images is not actually to explain but rather to further complicate an already difficult-to-grasp world. As artists, we explore broader societal events and changes that psychologically affect both large masses and individuals. Paintings express different perspectives on the meaning of life in their own way. They are based on human and shared experiences—fundamental experiences of being in the world. They are full of emotions, intertwining social, environmental, and human nature.
Immonen’s paintings can be viewed both as abstract and representational works. Photographs of significant moments are hidden beneath the painting, concealed from the viewer’s eyes—forcing the viewer to strain their gaze, turning them into a kind of voyeur. In Jussi Meuronen’s paintings, a character appears who observes the world from the sidelines—perhaps someone whom life has treated harshly—an anti-hero resisting the bourgeois way of life.
We work by studying the history of painting. We strive to understand and define broader abstract concepts and ideologies. We are excited about developing painting in a more multidimensional direction and reflecting on the intriguing relationships between painting, photography, and digital graphics. Our works, which combine painting and photography, offer a fresh way to approach the often difficult-to-understand medium of painting. The dialogue between materiality and representation examines the process and formation of an artwork, as well as our way of viewing images.
Unski Antti Immonen (b. 1981, Varkaus) graduated with a Master’s degree in Fine Arts from the Academy of Fine Arts in 2015. He previously earned his degree as a visual artist from the Art School Maa in 2011.
As an artist, I see myself as a kind of researcher. I explore different ways of constructing an artwork and understanding how a piece takes shape. At the same time, as my works develop, I try to make sense of and structure the world. The final piece can be anything, but at its core, it is about a way of existing and perceiving the world. This is my way of processing abstract existence in the world. I grasp onto this thread and turn it into art—the starting point from which I slowly begin to unravel and build my part in this complex reality. As an artist, I am a storyteller who tells small, everyday narratives that reveal themselves if one takes a moment to pause and engage with the works.
Jussi Meuronen (b. 1982)
Painting is my way of grasping the world. At its core, my art is about analyzing and recognizing emotions. In my works, I usually use multiple materials—such as prints in collage techniques—onto which I add paint, glue, and sand, working them until I discover an interesting visual texture to latch onto. I graduated with a Master’s degree in Fine Arts from the Academy of Fine Arts in the summer of 2016 and have been actively working as a visual artist since 2011, when I completed my studies at the Art School Maa.
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