
Heikki Marila
Kaksoset, 2024
Oil on canvas
240 x 300 cm/95 x 119 in
HMAR_565
Heikki Marila
Kukat CXXXII (132.), 2021
Oil on canvas
200 x 185 cm/ 79 x 73 in
HMAR_366
Heikki Marila
Kukat CXXXVIII (138.), 2021
Oil on canvas
200 x 185 cm/79 x 73 in
HMAR_365
Heikki Marila
Kukat CXVIII (118.), 2021
Oil on canvas
200 x 185 cm/79 x 73 in
HMAR_357
Heikki Marila
Kukat CXXXVII (137.), 2021
Oil on canvas
200 x 185 cm/79 x 73 in
HMAR_364
Heikki Marila: XXIX Mänttä Art Festival
Mänttä, Finland
June 15 - August 31, 2025
One of the 84 participating artists is Heikki Marila (b. 1966), a leading figure in contemporary Finnish art. The exhibition features several of Marila’s works from 2021, as well as a single piece titled Twins, from 2024.
In the 2021 paintings, Marila revisits the floral motif he has explored for over 15 years — originally inspired by the flamboyant Dutch flower still lifes of the 17th century. These works depict decaying bouquets, offering a visual commentary on the chaotic state of the contemporary world. The stench of decay, the toxic fumes, are metaphorically painted away — an integral part of Marila’s emotionally charged creative process. The themes in these works remain highly relevant today. The paintings are expressive and marked by an intense physicality — characteristic of Marila, who is known for his bodily, almost visceral approach to painting. For him, the method of making and the visual language are inseparable.
At the Mänttä Art Festival, the theme is a firm No! Through this word of refusal, the exhibition explores themes such as local identity, childhood and parenthood, the human environment, tradition, as well as the mind and body.
Heikki Marila’s works have been widely exhibited in Finland, the Nordic countries, and across Europe.
Pekilo
Tehtaankatu 21, Mäntä, Finland
OPENING HOURS
Every day 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. (also midsummer)