Viljami Heinonen: Arboretum
26.11.2021–9.1.2022
Viljami Heinonen’s (b.1986) recent works fall into a thematic category of jungle-themed paintings. The series is highly painterly and can be appreciated solely for its abstract qualities. Heinonen’s raw, unpolished swirls of paint carry reminders of his emphatically physical approach and his total emotional immersion in the creative act. In his recent work, Heinonen has abandoned dystopian fantasy in favor of lighter aesthetic content. On closer analysis, however, his paintings can be interpreted as making a compelling environmentalist statement about biodiversity and its vanishing beauty.
Heinonen constructs his paintings layer upon layer, building synergy between the structural elements. Dynamic tension is born through juxtapositions of conflict and harmony. Rather than seeking tranquil composure, Heinonen consciously invites friction and imperfection. His paintings are intriguing not for their pleasing harmonies but for their flaws and emotional extremity. His abstract style of expression occasionally slips into the figurative, opening windows for free association. With his expressive brushwork, Heinonen infuses his paintings with a powerful emotional poignancy. His brushwork pays tribute to art history, yet his style inhabits its own realm dissociated from history.
Heinonen graduated from Kankaanpää Art School in 2012. He has held solo exhibitions at galleries including Helsinki’s Forum Box and Makasiini Contemporary in Turku. He has taken part in group exhibitions at venues including Pori Art Museum and Rovaniemi Art Museum. His work is represented in collections including Helsinki Art Museum HAM, the Saastamoinen Foundation, Pori Art Museum, Wihuri Art Foundation, and the State Art Deposit Collection. The artist is based in Tampere.