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Artists' Association of Finland

Kaisa Kaanela

Kaisa Kaanela
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Works available

TaikoTaidelainaamo | Helsingin Taiteilijaseura G12 Galleria

Basic information

b. 1979, Rauma
Visual Artist
Residence: Helsinki

Contact information

Phone number: +358 44 2523006
Email: kaisakaanela@gmail.com

Artist's Statement

My work arises from a visual idea that combines the processing of materials and creating a form. The form of the painting is an important part of its creation and design process. In my works, I utilize fragments, holes, crevices and shapes that challenge the traditional rectangular painting base.
Time is layered in my paintings, with overlapping past and future. On one hand, I work facing forward; on the other hand, I scrape out elements – things from the past – hidden under layers of paint. I often find something already forgotten that takes on new meanings in a later context.
As I work, the topic gradually deepens, the colour scheme evolves, and the different forms of the base challenge me to create something new.
A painting is a story made up of layers, lines, and scrapings. For me, painting bases are layers of thoughts and events.
As I work, I let the process guide me forward. The time I spend working on each of my works is long: several months.
For me, the painting base is a three-dimensional object – a sculpture. In addition to visual perception, I use my sense of touch in the realization of my paintings.
I sometimes process the bases briskly. I use paint to build a mass on the surface of the work and process it by sanding, scraping and dissolving, revealing layers of colour beneath. The essence, mass and form of the colour are in dialogue with each other. In my newer paintings, I use stencils and create graphic patterns with sharp outlines.

From start to finish, I craft the painting base manually from pressing the base plate, cutting the shape of the base, gluing and priming the fabric.
I allow the place and space to influence the painting process. I collect influences from the environment and, at the same time, work on the dynamics and movement of colours and shapes within the painting.
I pick up details from the environment that give an indication of the place of the work.
Moving between different spaces is an important part of
my work process. I observe the city and the changes in nature and seasons.

Show biography

Works from the artist

Name of the work: Versoilua
Versoilua
Name of the work: Kasva, kasva!
Kasva, kasva!
Name of the work: Lintu & kasvi
Lintu & kasvi
Name of the work: Kasvun ihme
Kasvun ihme
Name of the work: Kasvun ilo
Kasvun ilo
Name of the work: Kukkaruukku
Kukkaruukku
Name of the work: Kukka, ruukku, sydän
Kukka, ruukku, sydän
Name of the work: Kukka & perhonen
Kukka & perhonen
Name of the work: Kasvukausi
Kasvukausi
Name of the work: Kukka & hedelmä
Kukka & hedelmä
Name of the work: Sitruunapuu
Sitruunapuu
Name of the work: Haave
Haave
Name of the work: Salmiakkiruutuja maljakossa, keltaiset kukat
Salmiakkiruutuja maljakossa, keltaiset kukat
Name of the work: Pienet kukat – iso maljakko, Sarjasta Kukkia maljakossa
Pienet kukat – iso maljakko, Sarjasta Kukkia maljakossa
Name of the work: Punainen tausta, silhuetilla varjo
Punainen tausta, silhuetilla varjo
Name of the work: Sinikeltaisia unelmia, Sarjasta Kukkia maljakossa
Sinikeltaisia unelmia, Sarjasta Kukkia maljakossa
Name of the work: Salmiakkikuvio ja siniset lehdykät, Sarjasta Kukkia maljakossa
Salmiakkikuvio ja siniset lehdykät, Sarjasta Kukkia maljakossa
Name of the work: Ympärillä pisaroi, sarjasta Kukkia maljakossa
Ympärillä pisaroi, sarjasta Kukkia maljakossa
Name of the work: Hedelmämalja
Hedelmämalja
Name of the work: Kahdeksan
Kahdeksan
Name of the work: Omenakori
Omenakori
Name of the work: Naamio
Naamio
Name of the work: Hedelmämalja
Hedelmämalja
Name of the work: Ajatus
Ajatus
Name of the work: Kolme pistettä
Kolme pistettä
Name of the work: Neljä
Neljä
Name of the work: Liekki
Liekki
Name of the work: Taivutus
Taivutus
Name of the work: Kuvio-sarja, Maalaus 3
Kuvio-sarja, Maalaus 3
Name of the work: Kuvio-sarja, Maalaus 2
Kuvio-sarja, Maalaus 2
Name of the work: Paletti-sarja, Ilo
Paletti-sarja, Ilo
Name of the work: Paletti, Maalaus 1
Paletti, Maalaus 1
Name of the work: Paletti-sarja, Maalaus 3
Paletti-sarja, Maalaus 3
Name of the work: Paletti-sarja, Maalaus 2
Paletti-sarja, Maalaus 2
Name of the work: Paletti-sarja, Maalaus 4
Paletti-sarja, Maalaus 4
Name of the work: Kuvio-sarja, Neliö, kaari, tähti (diptyykki)
Kuvio-sarja, Neliö, kaari, tähti (diptyykki)
Name of the work: Väri-sarja, Pinkki
Väri-sarja, Pinkki
Name of the work: Leikki
Leikki
Name of the work: Värisommitelma
Värisommitelma
Name of the work: Ilottelu
Ilottelu
Name of the work: Haave
Haave
Name of the work: Sommitelma 1
Sommitelma 1
Name of the work: Kadun ääniä
Kadun ääniä
Name of the work: Rytmi-sarja, maalaus nro 1
Rytmi-sarja, maalaus nro 1
Name of the work: Rytmi-sarja, Maalaus nro 2
Rytmi-sarja, Maalaus nro 2
Name of the work: Rytmi-sarja, Maalaus nro 9
Rytmi-sarja, Maalaus nro 9
Name of the work: Valo maisemassa I
Valo maisemassa I
Name of the work: Puutarha
Puutarha

Bio

I am studying in the Bachelor's Degree Programme in Fine Arts at Turku Arts Academy, starting in autumn 2026.


I graduated in 2004 from the Art School Maa and as a photographer from the Muurla Photography Institute. I have deepened my expertise at the Open University of the Academy of Fine Arts and the University of Art and Design Helsinki.

My artworks are born from the desire to express stories and thoughts to the viewer through painting. The shape of the painting base is an important part of the work even at its early stages. I want to challenge the traditional way of painting the work on a rectangular base. The paintings consist of colours, lines and surfaces, and my work is guided by the materiality of the colours. Removing colour and going back to the past is as important as painting and moving forward. The different layers of colour and the thoughts that arose during the work appear when I paint and remove the layers of colour. Colours and shapes, the past and the future, make my paintings multilayered.

I had a residency at the Art Centre Salmela in Mäntyharju for the autumn season of 2012 and another two-week residency in Vyborg in the spring of 2013.

I have had three solo exhibitions at Gallery G12 in Helsinki: ‘Rhythm’ in 2019 and ‘Surface’ in 2021. My third exhibition, ‘Pattern’, will be held at Gallery G12 in November of 2023.
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