Emilia Hakkarainen

Emilia Hakkarainen (b. 1980) is a Helsinki-based visual artist.

Her practice often involves exploring big questions and trying to unravel the wonders of the universe. These inquiries give rise to narrative works featuring characters, either invented or based on existing figures, imbued with an awkward sense of humour. Mistakes play a significant role in her work, and she often leaves visible traces of things that have gone wrong in the painting process. Emilia creates a new reality around herself, allowing her to reflect on what is true and what is not. A narrative runs from one work to the next, with the same characters appearing repeatedly. Some of these figures are self-portraits.

She plays with colour and rhythm, while references to life beyond the painting guide the viewer. She approaches her subjects with humour and deliberately leaves things open-ended.