Taidemaalariliitto

Light and the movement of light are central themes in the work of visual artist Pekka Vesterinen. In his works, he has explored the behavior and effect of light in spatial space, water, built and urban environments, and in relation to various materials. In his new paintings, Vesterinen depicts light in forest-like nature. In these paintings, however, the trees and terrain are only suggestive backgrounds or stages. Vesterinen does not paint forested nature itself.

The fans and continuums of sharp strokes depict its movement, the direction and intensity of which can be experienced as constantly changing. Because the environment of light is in constant motion, the light also bounces in different directions. The viewer’s relationship to light and the forest-like terrain that acts as the stage for light changes from painting to painting. The title of the exhibition also refers to this experience.

The diffused light welcomes the viewer entering the clearing or surrounds him or her as a cloud woven into a gauze-like web. In other paintings, the light seems to only peek through as individual bright promises from behind dense vegetation.

In the works in the exhibition, light picks up details from its surroundings, forming recognizable elements. It advances or stops to shimmer among the experienced tree trunks, leaves and other surfaces.

The new paintings expand Vesterinen’s expression without forgetting the references found in them to the previous contents of his art.

Arto Jurttila

Thank you: Arts Promotion Centre Finland.