THE BOX AND THE SEA – Riikka Aihinen
“You have to go inside to see outside.” This idea is the guiding thread of this exhibition. The concept originated in 2017 and tells the story of a journey into my inner world. Thoughts have simmered in my mind, evolved, and finally materialized into images. It is about communication and the desire to be internally seen—both by oneself and by others. Works from this series were exhibited in the spring of 2022 at Tm-Galleria in Helsinki and are now on display in Pori.
During this process, I have reflected on the impact of trauma on the experience of existence and the significance of behavioral patterns learned through trauma. The exhibition title, The Box and the Sea, refers to the mind’s limitations and boundlessness. It portrays the mind’s movement within a confined space as well as its capacity to extend into infinity. The exhibition presents works from two series, each approaching the theme from different perspectives.
In The Walk series, I depict the movement of the mind, or alternatively, the passage of life itself. The images are created through rhythm and repetition. The painting process is highly significant in these works. They depict movement within the mind and the feeling of being imprisoned by it. They also explore the need for mental control and the emotions associated with it. The edges of the canvas symbolize the boundaries of the mind, while the canvas itself represents an inner space—an existence within “the box.”
Brushstrokes form a surface resembling a wall or barrier, suggesting an obstruction to seeing or a place of concealment. This prevents me from seeing myself or others from seeing me. It is a self-imposed element standing between my inner spaces or between myself and the outside world. The brushstrokes create a rhythmic pattern across the surface, moving like thoughts or footsteps, turning when they reach the edge—until, finally, space runs out.
In The Box series, I depict places within the mind, their relationships, and the emotions present within them. These works feature recurring elements that I move around to explore their meanings and intensities. Such places include spaces containing traumatic memories as well as mental refuges.
Riikka Aihinen (b. 1976) has worked as a painter since 1999. She graduated from the Lahti Art Institute in 2004 and later supplemented her studies at the Lahti Institute of Design with pedagogical studies in basic art education. She currently lives and works in Turku. This exhibition is her seventh solo show. Throughout her career, she has participated in numerous group and joint exhibitions. Her works will be on display this year at Poriginal in Pori and in 2024 at Forum Box in Helsinki.
In her art, Aihinen seeks to explore the intersection where painting and existence meet. Her works depict an inner world, and painting as a form of expression is natural to her. She continuously seeks new discoveries within the framework of painting itself.
The exhibition has been supported by the Arts Promotion Centre Finland.
Translated with ChatGPT