Heikki Marila: Miasma II | Still Life After Rachel Ruysch

The exhibition consists of two distinct series of works that are presented separately in the gallery space: Miasma II and Still life After Rachel Ruysch. The earlier Miasma series depicts bouquets that Marila has dried or intentionally allowed to decompose in his home or studio. The paintings not only meditate on the artist’s personal history but also comment on the chaos of the current age. The title, meaning ‘poisonous vapor’, seemed an apt word to describe the toxic age we are living in today. Marila’s new paintings mark an attempt to paint away the contagious foul odor that contaminates our contemporary reality. The artist’s intensely expressive style of painting heightens the emotive impact of the content.

The second series of paintings is based on floral compositions by the still life painter Rachel Ruysch (1664–1751). Marila’s versions are not direct reproductions; they merely echo certain details found in Ruysch’s work. The entire series consists of variations of the same painting, each one distinguishable from the next only by studying certain subtle details. Marila has employed a similar serial approach in his earlier still life compositions, but his latest works stand out in their lightness of touch and in the unprecedented translucency of the layering of paint.

Marila has exhibited widely around Finland, the Nordic countries and Europe. His works are found in numerous notable collections, including the Sara Hildén Art Museum, the Wäinö Aaltonen Museum of Art, Helsinki Art Museum HAM, the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation Art Collection, and the Tia Collection in the USA.

Marila’s new show at Forsblom coincides with an exhibition at Laukko Manor casting a look back at his paintings from last decade inspired by old masters.