Kimanen, Maija Pilvikki - Stature

Acrylic on paper.

85 x 200 cm

2023

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

"For years, I made machines, videos, installations, and sculptures. Now I have returned to where my entire artistic journey began: painting and drawing. The themes of my works previously stemmed from amusing and positive insights. However, with painting, the themes became more intense: 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 by myself. My older sister once said that others do what they can, Maija does whatever she wants. Techniques that no one has ever used before just need practice. There's no textbook that teaches such a thing.”

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 use with acrylic paint, a stick, water, and ink. In this work, the color spreads and does what it wants... it's very interesting. My latest works feature two people; they are perhaps a kind of encounter. The works with many people relate to delusions, to the idea that there are many people at home, which can be frightening...