Kimanen, Maija Pilvikki - Gaze Downwards 2

Acrylic, ink on paper.

21 x 30 cm
2025

Maija Pilvikki Kimanen graduated as a visual artist from the Lahti Art Institute in 2006. Her works have been exhibited in galleries of artists' associations in various cities, in the Young Artists' Exhibition, and at the Outsider Art Festival at the Helsinki Art Museum HAM and 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 themes of my works previously stemmed from fun and positive insights. However, with painting, the themes became more intense: my paintings also deal with difficult issues such as illness and transience. I am interested in the limitations of human senses, mental illnesses, and functional impairments.

I draw much 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 know, Maija does just about anything. With techniques no one has ever used, you just have to practice. There's no textbook that teaches about it.”

My collections grow and develop 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 excited about the new sugar-water technique, which I do with acrylic paint, a stick, water, and ink. In the work, the color begins to spread and does what it wants... it's really interesting. My latest works feature two people, perhaps they are 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.. 

https://www.maijapilvikki.fi/