Anna Retulainen - Five Encounters with People: Colours Fill My Mind, I Feel Like My Head Is Splitting

Anna Retulainen (b. 1969, Orimattila) does not wish to explain her works, as she believes that the language of painting cannot be fully translated into words. Retulainen’s paintings have been described as “hidden-image-like.” At first, they may appear highly abstract, but upon closer inspection, one can discover something concrete - or at least hints of the subject the painting conveys.

Throughout her career, Retulainen has painted, for example, animals, her travels, and her memories. In her recent works, she depicts still lifes and important everyday spaces, such as home, studio, and garden. However, the subject serves merely as a starting point for the act of painting itself. The process of painting and the resulting brushwork are central to her practice.