Roope Itälinna
Born 1990 I Lives and works in Turku, Finland
Roope Itälinna’s oil and acrylic paintings deceive the eye of the viewer with their acute attention to detail. At first glance, they appear to be photographs. Itälinna explores themes such as escapism, as seen through the world of electronic music. The theme and the excecution also contain elements of surrealism.
In the paintings, Itälinna’s own experiences and profound impressions from the past are mingled with imaginary situations and settings. The atmosphere is not unambiguous, nor is it easy to tell from looking at the characters whether they are bored or euphoric. Whether they are seeking ecstatic liberation, harmless hedonism amid the fog from smoke machines and the brightly coloured lights, or is it a survival mechanism – the ultimate reason remains obscure. The paintings invite the viewer into moments where reality and imagination intersect, encouraging prolonged observation and reflection. Expressing a psychological and emotional reality, Itälinna extends the meaning of his works beyond the limits of visible reality.
The images range from tightly cropped close-ups to gloomy, spacious halls, and seemingly endless spaces. In Itälinna’s works the meticulous depiction of the objects – borrowed from photorealism, with even the tiniest details registered on the canvas – is combined with understated, minimalist picture surfaces. The choice of idea for a new work and its composition on canvas is usually the result of extended deliberation, sometimes, the right picture snapped in an instant is enough to get him started. The painting process takes a lot of time, demanding intense concentration and a protracted working process.
Itälinna has studied in the Turku Arts Academy as well as the University of Turku. Itälinna has exhibited at e.g. Untitled Miami with Makasiini Contemporary, Besides numerous private collections, Itälinna’s works are in the collection of Kiasma, Museum of Contemporary Art. Itälinna is the Finnish Young Artist of the Year 2026.