Riku Mäkinen’s (b. 1974) newest collages are simple yet complicated. He plays with contrasts, arranging forceful shapes into dynamic compositions that nevertheless retain their grace and aesthetic delicacy. Through contrasts, he aspires to achieve balance and harmony. Working with contrasts is, in fact, an integral part of Mäkinen’s process.
Mäkinen’s new collages are simpler and more graphic than his previous works. His treatment of color, too, is more subtle and complex. He does his own printing using self-mixed inks, which gives him more control over the result. Mäkinen rips and cuts out shreds of printed paper, which he arranges on aluminum, deliberately leaving scratches and torn strips visible on the surface. These blemishes play an import role, as his art revolves around imperfections, roughness, and textures. He developed his technique while searching for ways to push the seriality of printmaking in a more painterly direction. His cut-and-paste method is based in chance, his forms finding their final shape through a process of experimentation. Mäkinen composes and recomposes his collages many times, starting from scratch until every piece gradually falls into place. His process calls for patience, although it paradoxically allows him to work quickly and make drastic changes on the spur of the moment.
Mäkinen studied in the master’s program at Helsinki’s Academy of Fine Arts. He also studied sculpture and media art at the Lahti Institute of Design and Fine Arts. He has been a visiting lecturer at many Finnish art schools, and his work is found in collections, including the Finnish State Art Deposit Collection and the Sara Hildén Foundation.
