Saimi Suikkanen

Visual artist and painter.
(b.1994). Lives and works currently in Jyväskylä, Finland.

STATEMENT

As an artist, I deal with issues concerning the female body, female sexuality and life as a young woman in the cultural environment we live in. I examine these themes mainly through self-portraiture. My primary mediums are oil and watercolour painting.

My paintings are figurative, expressive, humorous and playful. I use bright coloured backgrounds and contrast them with loosely painted female figures. The scale of the paintings varies from large and colourful oil paintings to small and muted watercolour paintings or drawings. Recently I have been experimenting with digital art and how it relates to my interest in social media and human behaviour in the internet.

Through my art I want to question the perfectionist, ideal portrayal of women, female beauty and female sexuality in our culture. Self-portraits are currently my genre of choice because I, as do many others, deal with issues with my body because of these idealised, perfect versions of female bodies and proportions that are fed to us in traditional and social media every day, while also addressing the way people portray themselves in social media. Through self-portraiture I also examine my own feelings and thoughts about being looked at or being on display.

CURRICULUM VITAE

Education
2013 - 2017 Fine Art in Saimaa University of Applied Sciences, Imatra
2016 Erasmus studies in Ulster University, Belfast
2010 -13 Savonlinna Upper Secondary School of Visual Arts and Music

Solo Exhibitions
2018 CHILLING at home, B-galleria’s Project space, Turku
2018 Jotain uutta, with Heidi Suikkanen at Gallery Krimi, Imatra
2017 Mom Jeans, Käytävägalleria, Imatra
2016 Esillä, Taidebunkkeri, Imatra
2016 Maalauksia, Konditoria Imatrankoski, Imatra

Selected Group Exhibitions
2018 UURTO, Taidekeskus Itä, Lappeenranta
2018 Koti nimeltä Krimi, Krimi Buildings, Art Centre Krimi, Imatra
2017 MEETINGS, Gallery Noorus, Tartu, Estonia
2017 AUDITOITU , Saimaa UAS Degree Show, Imatra Art Museum
2017 Sadan vuoden jälkeen, Stockfors Art Fair, Pyhtää
2016 Seurauksia, Stockfors Art Fair, Pyhtää
2016 Nurja Puoli, Pop-Up Gallery, Imatra

2015 Viimeinen Sammuttaa valot, Lappeenranta
2015 Kesamaisemia Suomesta, City Hall, Imatra
2015 Maalaus, Skinnarila Campus, Lappeenranta
2015 Kaikki sanat on jo käytetty, Stockfors Art Fair, Pyhtää

2014 Heijastuksia, Stockfors Art Fair, Pyhtää,
2014 Kesamaisemia Suomesta, Galleria OyOy, Lahti

Memberships
Finnish Painters’ Union,
Artists’ Union of Southern Karelia

Grants
Finnish Cultural Foundation, South Karelia Regional fund
People’s Cultural Foundation
Foundation of William and Ester Otsakorpi

contact for commissions / queries:

SAIMI SUIKKANEN