Resume

Sampo Kaikkonen (b. 1975) is a Finnish figurative painter living and working in Oulu, Finland. His oil paintings respect the technique and style of the old masters.

The athmosphere in the paintings is timeless. There are no symbols of specific era and the landscape is universal. Beside the dominant human figures another strong factor in his works is emotion which mediates through his themes, expression and colors.

Statement

I am not a painter nor an artist — I am a storyteller. My paintings are hidden paths leading to an eternal place forgotten in the hurry of our times.

I tell stories with my brush. Slowly, layer by layer the spirit flows into the painting. Eventually something pure seems to breathe below the layers. The time is frozen. How did the story begin? Where does it lead?

The spirit of Baroque in forms of color and chiaroscuro remove the paintings from our time. Yet something touches the people of today. My figurative works are easily approachable. Art World's grammar is not needed — the paintings are here and now.

Narrativeness and sentimentality separate my paintings from mainstream contemporary art. After all, they are the features of kitsch rather than art. I'm a representative of the international Kitsch movement that provides alternative to the institutionalized art. I've also worked as a student and assistant of the movement's lead character the Norwegian Odd Nerdrum.

I am walking in big footsteps. Along this hidden path went Caravaggio, Rembrandt and many other giants. I follow the golden cape of my idol. My footprints are still small, but they are of importance to me and to the one whose heart is marked by my paintings.

Kitsch

Kaikkonen regards himself more of a Kitsch painter than an artist. Whith kitsch he refers to the Norwegian painter Odd Nerdrum's definition of high Kitsch.

Whereas art is constantly in the process of change, Kitsch is eternal. It is the rediscovered path enabling us to return to skill and great stories.

About Kitsch:

Sampo Kaikkonen: From Ars to Art And Back (essay, 2007)
The Nerdrum Institute
Kitsch related links

Curriculum Vitae

Sampo Kaikkonen, b. 1975 Gothenburg, Sweden

Education

Student of Odd Nerdrum, spring 2009
Master of Arts, University of Lapland, 2007
Master of Education / Specialized in Arts, University of Oulu, 2001

Solo Exhibitions

Altum Silentium, Gallery Valve, Oulu, Finland 2011
Hidden Path, Gallery 5, Oulu, Finland 2011
Hovinkartano Arts and Cultural Centre, Hauho, Finland 2010
Hidden Path, Gallery Saskia, Tampere, Finland 2010
Nocturne, Gallery Myötätuuli, Raahe, Finland 2008
Moment and Eternity, Jauhiainen art museum, Kiiminki, Finland 2007
Moment and Eternity, Gallery Kilo, Rovaniemi, Finland 2007
Prologus II, Oulu, Finland 2005
Artist of the Month, The Artotheque, Oulu, Finland 2005 and 2007
Prologus, Haapavesi, Finland 2004

Group Exhibitions (international)

Kitsch Biennale, Venice, Italy Palazzo Cini 2010
International Exhibition 2010 Surrealism Now, Coimbra, Portugal 2010
Kitsch - mer enn kunst, Telemarksgalleriet, Norway 2009
Nerdrum And Students, Stavern, Norway 2009
Nerdrum's Students, Tønsberg, Norway 2009
Kitsch Biennale, München, Germany 2008
European Masters of Modern Art, Burgau, Austria 2007
Kitsch Annual 2006, Stavern, Norway

Group Exhibitions (Finland)

Small Miracles, Jauhiainen art museum, Kiiminki, Finland 2011
Otos, Gallery Ahjo, Joensuu, Finland 2011
Nature Morte, O. Jauhiainen art museum, Kiiminki, Finland 2009
Self Portrait, O. Jauhiainen art museum, Kiiminki, Finland 2008
Libriars, city library, Oulu, Finland 2007
Tabloid, O. Jauhiainen art museum, Kiiminki, Finland 2007
New members of Oulu Artists' Association, Galleria 5/NUKU, Oulu 2006
ART 2005, Rovaniemi, Kemi, Kokkola, Kajaani and Oulu, Finland 2005

Collections

City of Oulu, Finland
City of Raahe, Finland
Franz Drapela Foundation, Austria
The Oulu Region Joint Authority for Education

Memberships

Oulu Artists' Association
World Wide Kitsch

	Links Contact Resume Paintings Home Resume Sampo Kaikkonen (b. 1975) is a Finnish figurative painter living and working in Oulu, Finland. His oil paintings respect the technique and style of the old masters. The athmosphere in the paintings is timeless. There are no symbols of specific era and the landscape is universal. Beside the dominant human figures another strong factor in his works is emotion which mediates through his themes, expression and colors. Statement " I am not a painter nor an artist — I am a storyteller. My paintings are hidden paths leading to an eternal place forgotten in the hurry of our times. I tell stories with my brush. Slowly, layer by layer the spirit flows into the painting. Eventually something pure seems to breathe below the layers. The time is frozen. How did the story begin? Where does it lead? The spirit of Baroque in forms of color and chiaroscuro remove the paintings from our time. Yet something touches the people of today. My figurative works are easily approachable. Art World's grammar is not needed — the paintings are here and now. Narrativeness and sentimentality separate my paintings from mainstream contemporary art. After all, they are the features of kitsch rather than art. I'm a representative of the international Kitsch movement that provides alternative to the institutionalized art. I've also worked as a student and assistant of the movement's lead character the Norwegian Odd Nerdrum. I am walking in big footsteps. Along this hidden path went Caravaggio, Rembrandt and many other giants. I follow the golden cape of my idol. My footprints are still small, but they are of importance to me and to the one whose heart is marked by my paintings. Kitsch Kaikkonen regards himself more of a Kitsch painter than an artist. Whith kitsch he refers to the Norwegian painter Odd Nerdrum's definition of high Kitsch. Whereas art is constantly in the process of change, Kitsch is eternal. It is the rediscovered path enabling us to return to skill and great stories. About Kitsch: Sampo Kaikkonen: From Ars to Art And Back (essay, 2007) The Nerdrum Institute Kitsch related links Curriculum Vitae Sampo Kaikkonen, b. 1975 Gothenburg, Sweden Education Student of Odd Nerdrum, spring 2009 Master of Arts, University of Lapland, 2007 Master of Education / Specialized in Arts, University of Oulu, 2001 Solo Exhibitions Altum Silentium, Gallery Valve, Oulu, Finland 2011 Hidden Path, Gallery 5, Oulu, Finland 2011 Hovinkartano Arts and Cultural Centre, Hauho, Finland 2010 Hidden Path, Gallery Saskia, Tampere, Finland 2010 Nocturne, Gallery Myötätuuli, Raahe, Finland 2008 Moment and Eternity, Jauhiainen art museum, Kiiminki, Finland 2007 Moment and Eternity, Gallery Kilo, Rovaniemi, Finland 2007 Prologus II, Oulu, Finland 2005 Artist of the Month, The Artotheque, Oulu, Finland 2005 and 2007 Prologus, Haapavesi, Finland 2004 Group Exhibitions (international) Kitsch Biennale, Venice, Italy Palazzo Cini 2010 International Exhibition 2010 Surrealism Now, Coimbra, Portugal 2010 Kitsch - mer enn kunst, Telemarksgalleriet, Norway 2009 Nerdrum And Students, Stavern, Norway 2009 Nerdrum's Students, Tønsberg, Norway 2009 Kitsch Biennale, München, Germany 2008 European Masters of Modern Art, Burgau, Austria 2007 Kitsch Annual 2006, Stavern, Norway Group Exhibitions (Finland) Small Miracles, Jauhiainen art museum, Kiiminki, Finland 2011 Otos, Gallery Ahjo, Joensuu, Finland 2011 Nature Morte, O. Jauhiainen art museum, Kiiminki, Finland 2009 Self Portrait, O. Jauhiainen art museum, Kiiminki, Finland 2008 Libriars, city library, Oulu, Finland 2007 Tabloid, O. Jauhiainen art museum, Kiiminki, Finland 2007 New members of Oulu Artists' Association, Galleria 5/NUKU, Oulu 2006 ART 2005, Rovaniemi, Kemi, Kokkola, Kajaani and Oulu, Finland 2005 Collections City of Oulu, Finland City of Raahe, Finland Franz Drapela Foundation, Austria The Oulu Region Joint Authority for Education Memberships Oulu Artists' Association World Wide Kitsch
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