Karkki Mäkelä
In a House of Mirrors for Too Long
14 October–6 November 2022
The theme of my works is the non-Zen side of humanity, featuring a petty and self-centered hero who is lost. The works deal with the (non-)realistic nature of one’s self-image, naive hopes and the fear of being rejected. A recurring theme is a realization of not knowing if one has walked too far or just in circles. When did one’s thinking get stuck in a rut, at what point did it all turn into navel-gazing or self-pity? The figures in the works get lost in their environment and fantasies, flex their imaginary muscles and wallow barefoot in their fantasies in the corner of the couch.
I am interested in humanity and its different aspects and subconscious behavioral patterns that boost one’s ego. My aim is to find an understanding perspective, even if the subject matter is painful. For me, painting is at the same time about painful (and occasionally cheerful) introspection and commenting on the sometimes terrifying things going on in the world today. About reflections.
