Kimanen, Maija Pilvikki - Boy

Acrylic, ink on paper.

21 x 30 cm

2025

Maija Pilvikki Kimanen graduated as a visual artist from Lahti Art Institute in 2006. Her works have been exhibited in galleries of artist associations in various cities, the Young Artists' Exhibition, and the Outsider Art Festival at the Helsinki Art Museum HAM, as well as Galleria Rajatila. The artist lives and works in Helsinki.

"For years I made machines, videos, installations, and sculptures. Now I have returned to where my artistic journey began: painting and drawing. The subjects of my earlier works stemmed from funny and positive insights. With painting, however, the themes became rougher: my paintings also address difficult issues such as illness and transience. I am interested in the limitations of human senses, mental illnesses, and functional limitations.

I draw a lot from my own life for my works. I do all sorts of things on my own. My older sister once said that others do what they can, Maija just does whatever. Techniques that no one has ever used before just need practice. There's no textbook that teaches about it."

My collections grow and evolve over time. I have found my own technique and way of making art; it cannot be learned from any book, it must be discovered through experimentation. I am really enthusiastic about the new sugar water technique, which I do with acrylic paint, a stick, water, and ink. In the work, the color starts to spread and does what it wants... it's really interesting. My newest works feature two people, perhaps some kind of encounters. Works with many people relate to hallucinations, to the feeling that there are a lot of people at home, which can be frightening.