Alf Björk -Tempera paintings
20.10. – 7.11.2010

Press Release

SPACE TREATED AS SURFACE. DECORATION ALLOWED

The works in the exhibition are big, layer by layer painted oils and water colours. Their colours are birght and clear, and characteristic is the surface-like way of painting.

When paintig Mari Leskinen seems to be on an exploration, reflecting the pleasure in her work. She feels free to create, which makes the contents of the working process meaningsful and rich. The overflowing, glamorous decoration is permitted. The ormanental motives and repeating rhytm as well as the sticking to the surface-like painting have similarities and remenbrances to the islamic art and perhaps also to the decorative expressionism in the early twentieth century. But compared to them, Mari Leskinen´s art flows.

The surprise of gaining something new by searching and finding dictates Mari Leskinen´s working. The inspiring, radically new way to be creative and free was discovered from Raisa Kaipainen´s and Torsten Ruger´s Elämäntaide-kurssi (Art of Living -course). Getting free from theories brought the intensive and complete colour surfaces and allowed the decoration.

There is a strong and rhytmic contour line in Mari Leskinen´s paintings. Landscape, nature, water, sky, fire and space can be seen as motifs. The names come along gradually, they are not made up.

Oil colours have give an impression of depth, that is why Mari Leskinen favours them. To her oil colour is the king of all paints.

Mari Leskinen graduated Master of Fine Arts from the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts, Helsinki, in 2000. She has participated several solo and group exhibitions since 1996.