WORKS FROM 1965-82 – IMMO TUOMINEN
PRESS RELEASE
Throughout the history of Finnish art, nature has been a source of strength and inspiration for our visual artists. However, it has also served as a convenient concept behind which artists can hide when they have nothing else to say. As Markku Valkonen described the state of art in recent decades in one of his articles: “Nature is the great channel of this decade. It flows inevitably, drawing in the lost sheep as well as those who have not strayed too far. Nature has become the universally accepted altar of humility, where participants can seek forgiveness from the bourgeoisie and where abstractionists can seek pardon from the public without having to change their long-held worldview.”
The points raised above naturally lead to critical questions when encountering works in which the central elements of nature serve as the starting point for an artist’s creative process.
This is also true for the current exhibition, as throughout his twenty-year career, Immo Tuominen has emphasized the importance of nature as a driving force in his work. While the significance of his environment — in Tuominen’s case, the strongly maritime landscape of Rauma — cannot be underestimated, nature has only served him as a hypothesis or, at most, carries a symbolic value. His challenge has not been to dissect nature using abstract techniques; rather, his exploration has always been rooted in colors, as he is fundamentally a colorist.
His primary goal is to master colors, using them to construct compositions based on their intrinsic values. This was most evident in his earlier works from the so-called informalist period. Among the most intriguing pieces from this era are his blue paintings, where, in addition to the movement occurring on the surface, he also creates depth in the space. The impression created by these works arises from an almost otherworldly glow associated with blue and the tension between its cold tones. This period was also characterized by strong contrasts, not only in the treatment of colors but also in the handling of forms. Despite the raw execution, the content was delicate, almost lyrical.
His current work is particularly dominated by yellow. With the arrival of this color, his compositions have gained a clearer structure. In his latest pieces, the arrangements are built upon vertical and horizontal lines. Tuominen is most in his element when working on large-scale pieces. In these, the richness of color surfaces and the interplay of contrasts become more meaningful. These works demand more from the viewer but also offer more in return. Immo Tuominen has never been an easy artist to engage with, and he describes himself as an artist for the elite.
The other side of his work is represented by smaller-scale pieces and watercolors. These are often created during moments of calm between intense periods of work, but they have frequently led to new ideas in form and color.
This exhibition offers a clear perspective on Immo Tuominen’s artistic persona — with the earliest works dating back to the beginning of his career. The exhibition provides a deep insight into his development over different periods while also highlighting him as an uncompromising artist. Remaining true to his vision, he analyzes nature and his environment, creating aesthetic values that endure beyond those formed by kneeling at the “altar of atonement,” to borrow again from Markku Valkonen.
(From the exhibition catalog “Immo Tuominen,” essay “Väri – Immo Tuomisen taiteen voima” (Color – The Force of Immo Tuominen’s Art), written by Erkki Linnala, published by Pori Art Museum)
Translated with ChatGPT