In 2021, 25 years later, Sakkinen’s acerbic brand of irony and parody are still very much intact. These days he calls himself a turborealist, meaning that he portrays the world exactly as it is – not things he supports or likes, but things he detests and rejects. His images typically have a subtext of parody and social satire.
To celebrate Sakkinen’s anniversary, our gallery presents a selection of works from his exhibition last year at the Finnish Museum of Natural History. Never seen before in the gallery, these animal-themed drawings depict famous food industry mascots and cartoon heroes. Sakkinen adds grotesque features to these normally jolly characters, the most famous example being his MoMA-owned portrait of the Nesquik bunny, whom he depicts drinking his own urine.
After graduating from the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts in 2002, Sakkinen moved to Spain, where he continues to live and work today. He has exhibited widely both in Finland and internationally, and his drawings are found in significant collections, including New York’s Museum of Modern Art, Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, Helsinki Art Museum HAM, and the Gösta Serlachius Foundation collection.
Gallery name: Galerie Forsblom Helsinki
Address: Yrjönkatu 22, Helsinki
Opening hours: Tue-Fri 11:00 - 18:00, Sat-Sun 12:00 - 16:00
Open: 05.02.2021 - 28.02.2021