Roope Itälinna’s oil and acrylic paintings deceive the eye of the viewer with their acute attention to detail. Itälinna’s third solo exhibition at Makasiini Contemporary deals with escapism, for instance, as seen through the world of electronic music. The theme and the way these works have been executed continue the artist’s characteristic approach, although, this time, they differ from his previous work in containing 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 images in the exhibition 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.
Besides numerous private collections, Itälinna’s works are in the collection of the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma. All the exhibition works were created during 2024 and their materials range from paintings on canvas and board to works on paper.
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 images in the exhibition 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.
Besides numerous private collections, Itälinna’s works are in the collection of the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma. All the exhibition works were created during 2024 and their materials range from paintings on canvas and board to works on paper.
