SAMI RISSANEN - "Sometimes the sea is on my mind, but it disappears."

I interviewed the painter Sami Rissanen. He seems to be busy, but in his short answers lies the whole truth for me. The artist's words are like his works—confident and multidimensional.

Rissanen graduated from the University of Art and Design Helsinki in 1997. At that time, I was about to embark on my own art career, and I remember the same harsh but comforting 90s atmosphere in the corridors of art schools, which can be sensed in Rissanen's works.

Sami Rissanen's career stems from a deep interest and need to express himself through art. When interviewing him, it comes to mind to divide all creators into two groups: those who want to be artists and those who are and thankfully have no other choice. Rissanen naturally belongs to the latter group. These creators are prophets to me. Sometimes they are aware of it, sometimes not.

Return to Mushroom Island from 2022 (acrylic and charcoal on canvas, 80x100 cm)

I asked the artist to choose a piece for the blog himself. The story behind it is vast, but the explanation is brief.

“Return to Mushroom Island is quite a typical painting of mine. It contains abstract shapes and water. Sometimes the sea is on my mind, but it disappears. What remains are possibly a few drops of water.”

Rissanen notes that the materials and shades of his works have changed over the years. “Sometimes in the depressing late 80s and 90s, the color palette was quite grey-blue. Life events and situations likely influenced it. Nowadays, orange and pink have even entered my world... As a visual artist, I try to preserve those colors… The most inspiring part of painting is perhaps the semi-unplanned nature and the result, which is never what you might have initially envisioned.”

To the One I Never Met 2024 (Mixed media on canvas, 80x100 cm). The piece can be hung upside down if desired.

Rissanen works in southern Finland, at home. He says he occasionally longs for a change of scenery. The selection available at Taiko offers imaginative views painted from musical landscapes of the mind and unencountered encounters. The works give the viewer the option to hang the painting upside down as the seasons change. Explore Sami Rissanen's colorful world on Taiko's website. You can request a discount code for purchases by contacting us, Mirai Homes.