Born 1966 | Lives and works in Turku
Heikki Marila is a Finnish artist with an extensive career in painting. Marila’s new series of semi-abstract flower paintings is inspired by the 17th century painter Rachel Ryusch’s still lifes. His ongoing Miasma-series depicts dried and decomposed bouquets. The literal meaning of ”Miasma”, a foul stench or unpleasant odour, is a kind of metaphor for the feeling one may experience as a reaction to global circumstances, hostile political atmosphere and the climate catastrophe. The sensation of viewing the fleshy and thick oil paintings by Marila is located somewhere between delight, awe and disgust.
Marila has shown in numerous solo and group exhibitions in the Scandinavia and Europe and he has received prizes, the most notable being the Carnegie Art Award which he won for his expressive flower paintings in 2012. Marila has made several public works and his works can be found in several important collections such as HAM Helsinki Art Museum, The Saastamoinen Foundation, Turku Art Museum and Tia Collection USA.
