Saara Mesterton

Basic information

b. 1958, Kuhmo
visual artist, painter
Residence: Kerava

Contact information

Phone number: +358 45 1309161

Artist’s Statement

My art proceeds from my quest to understand the place of a human being surrounded by life and death.

Colour plays an important role in my paintings. I move between abstraction and figurative. Recognizable shapes and spaces are created from different colour fields.

Recently my abstract oil paintings are augmented with images, created by artist and researcher Hannu Töyrylä using his own AI based tools. In this way, an ambiguous narrative element is added to the abstract.

My art work is influenced by Bauhaus modernism and foremost by the colour thinking of Josef Albers. Marimekko's straight-line patterns also made a strong impression on me, in my youth when Marimekko T-shirts made everything look like moving stripes .

I have been making performance videos in addition to painting. In performance, I deal with issues and perspectives that made me interested in a subject. Performance always involves painting, animation or otherwise as part of the video. Often there is also a song I sing myself.
Show biography

Current information

Galleria Uusi Kipinä 18.9.-6.10.2024
solo exhibition
Kymintie 1
15140 Lahti

Art Radar Blog
http://newandabstract.com/blogs/news/five-questions-to-saara-mesterton

Bio

After my studies in music and visual arts, I have had solo exhibitions, including at Taidekeskus Mältinranta Tampere, Galleria Rikhard in Helsinki, Turun taiteilijaseura's Just-gallery, Emil Danielsson's stone atelier in Sastamala, and Galleria Uusi Kipinä in Lahti (2024).

 I have participated in numerous group exhibitions, with the most significant ones being at Kerava Art Museum, Ruukin Galleria in Tuusula, Porvoo Art Hall, Art Fair Suomi at Helsinki Cable Factory (2015, 2017, 2019), Artborg 35 in Sipoo, and Galleria Alli in Kerava.

I am a member of Muu ry (Finnish Artists' Association), Sipoon taiteilijat ry (Artists of Sipoo) , and Yö ry (Yö Artists' Community).

 As a visual artist, I have contributed my visual perspective to various collaborative projects. 

The latest is my participation in Jani Vepsä's doctoral research on Artistic Thinking, Practical Framework 2023-2024 (Aalto University). 

During the renovation of Kerava Asemansilta in 2018-2019, there was a participatory urban planning art project, where we created cat figures  for the bridge's railings in collaboration with the children and youth of  Keravan kuvataidekoulu (Kerava Art School) and Keravan Kaupunkitekniikka (Kerava City Engineering). 

At Kerava Taidetivoli from 2016 to 2019, which was a flagship project of the Ministry of Education and Culture, we conceived and implemented visual arts, music, and dance workshops for children and youth.

I participated in the steering group for the  Osallistava museo (Inclusive Museum) project at the Arts and Museum Center Sinkka in 2015-2016. 

From 2013 to 2017, we implemented three Osaava (Competent) projects

in the Kerava, Järvenpää, and Tuusula areas, with the basic idea of artist-teacher collaboration. 

I was involved in the planning of Studio Apartments for Kerava in 1993-1994.

https://www.newandabstract.com/blogs/news/five-questions-to-saara-mesterton-1