PAINTINGS AND COLOR LIGHTS – RISTO HEIKINHEIMO
Risto Heikinheimo has been deeply involved in interdisciplinary projects throughout the 1980s, particularly in performance art. He was a founding member of both the Jack Helen Brut group and the Helmut Pantzer group, though, true to the nature of performance art, neither of these renowned collectives is actively operating anymore. Currently, Heikinheimo is associated with Artists’ Association MUU, which serves as a bridge for groups working outside the boundaries of traditional arts.
Heikinheimo himself acts as a bridge. In his role on the board of the Finnish Painters’ Union, he sees his mission as mediating between new and traditional art forms.
In Risto Heikinheimo’s color circles, the pigments are rich, but the edges that define the circles from their background are not, allowing the shifting shades of color to emerge gently rather than explosively. This contributes to the meditative atmosphere Heikinheimo intends to create. He draws a clear distinction between his own work and, for example, that of Malevich, whose aggressive qualities are alien to him.
Heikinheimo encourages viewers to observe the four changing-color and two static light-painting works alone and without haste. Any associations—from phenomena in outer space to states of mind—are welcome.