For many months, that is, almost two years of Corona, I have been working in a home office without any idea that I could attend any public event.
And all of a sudden: starting December 1st this year, there's an opportunity to organize a private and the first exhibition consisting only of own works in the Pop up - Kulttuuritalo Vanha Apteekki (gallery site in Finnish only).
My black and white history
From school times onwards, I heard and later read that black or white is not a color and that there is no black outline. And yet for the last 15 years, there has been more and more black India Ink and washes and black line in my pictures. A lot combined with acrylic paints or watercolors.
Maybe it all started with black and white photography in the 70s. My father taught me to take photos, develop films and pictures in my own lab. And of course I got to know the old masters of photography, e.g. Robert Capa and others and also Finns like Signe Brander.
When I read Lucy Cousins' Maisy books to children in the evenings, I remember paying attention to the bold black outlines of all figures.
Marjatta Tapiola's paintings were also impressive when showing strong drawing, shape and color.
What’s in it then, other than picking pictures and deciding how to have them hanging on the wall or drying on a line, perhaps.
Oh crap
How old and worn my own imagery is. "They don't interest any". Have these on the walls for others to wonder. Can I take it, the feeling of embarrassment and show up at the opening.
The feeling may be familiar to Finns: it is by no means appropriate to present something of one's own and even be satisfied with it but in some secret and quiet way. Starting to be proud for his own good - that fella!
However, this is what is happening here. Pictures on the walls for others to view and maybe some of them will please a visitor and move into your new home. I hope looking at paintings and drawings can bring some joy to somebody else in a way I cannot imagine.