For Teemu Korpela, the artistic process is a method of examining one’s life in a way that enables a better life for oneself and others. The journey to a better life starts by understanding the reality in which we live. Korpela’s pieces are created in a process of trying to understand his experiences and the relationship of the powers that produce them.
“Observing the contents of my own psyche through art allows me to identify influential elements in the foundation of my experiences that are otherwise concealed by the monotony of society in everyday life. Art is always a poetic interpretation of the examined subject. Poetics aims to combine the examination of the subject with experiential information that is lost in the rigid chains of data and logic, just like the perception of light is lost when presented as a prism.
Examining my experiences through works of art is personal and can’t offer solutions to another person’s relationship with the world. However, as the world and the visual elements I useto give shape to my experiences are shared, the pieces may inspire the viewer to think about the social foundation of their own experiences and meanings. Sometimes, you see a series of visual cues and re-encounter your cultural identity in a way that corrects your ethical relationship with the surrounding reality and yourself.”
Teemu Korpela’s (1980) artistic process has been characterised by a conceptual approach to the imagery of paintings and the opportunities offered by various materials. The ideas usually stem from existential questions. In recent years, Korpela has mainly exhibited large installations drawing inspiration from paintings, but in his previous exhibitions, he has also extensively combined various forms of artistic expression.
Korpela has actively exhibited his pieces since 2005 in Finland, the US, the UK, Sweden, Latvia and Slovakia. Korpela’s pieces are featured in the collections of Kiasma (Finnish National Gallery and Seppo Fränti’s collection), the State, the Finnish Art Society,Tampere Art Museum, Turku Art Museum (Lars Göran Johnsson’s collection), Lappeenranta Art Musem, Imatra Art Museum and the Paulo Foundation.
