Elina Merenmies - Portrait of a Sister, 2006 - Ink on handmade paper, 45 x 38 cm

nordiska akvarellmuseet

Södra hamnen 6

471 32 Skärhamn, Sweden

The Nordic Watercolour Museum presents an exhibition of the work of Elina Merenmies  – Mar 21 – May 2, 2010

– one of Finland’s leading contemporary artists – and her dark but fascinating world. In a strange but characteristic way the art of Elina Merenmies follows in the footsteps of figurative tradition. She sketches with Indian or regular ink on paper and paints in oil and tempera on canvas and board. At times she chooses to combine acrylic and oils. The size of her works ranges from small drawings to gigantic paintings. She has been represented in the collections of the Nordic Watercolour Museum for many years and has participated in several of the museum’s collective exhibitions.  …………………..Read More from Nordic Watercolour Museum.

Elina Merenmies – An artist of surprises – Galerie Anhava

Elina Merenmies is a painter of fantastical visions whose art defies categorization. Following its own logic, her oeuvre moves in the border zones of expressionism, surrealism and raw art. At times she paints with a combination of tempera and oil, at times she makes ink washes, and sometimes it is time for acrylic painting.

Extract from an interview which was publishedin Kiasma magazine no 33 – 2006 vol 9.

Introducing this year’s Ars Fennica candidates

Elina Merenmies is one of the four candidates for the Ars Fennica award, Finland’s foremost distiction in the visual arts. The winner of the 2007 Ars Fennica award will be chosen in January by Glenn Scott Wright from Victoria Miro Gallery.

Artists Elina Brotherus (EB), Markus Kåhre (MK), Elina Merenmies (EM) and Anna Tuori (AT) have replied to frequently asked questions about creating art.

What does being an artist mean to you?
EM: In financial terms, and in terms of health, the pace of work and many other things, a commitment to art means giving up a certain amount of comfort, humane working hours and often even making allowances in terms of occupational safety. On the whole, however, being an artist means enjoying one’s work.

Where do you get the ideas for your works?
EM: From enthusiasm. It has very little to do with inspiration, but enthusiasm and my faith in what I do remain constant. I take a great interest in the reality of people in this world, and on the other hand I have a lot of visions that are connected with it or to some specific part of it.

How do you work?
EM: Like crazy, ha ha. I do try to work in a way that allows me to retain a strong feeling that I am also living my life. That I have the ability to live my life. That includes being able to enjoy what I do, coffee breaks, the sound of the rain, for instance, and everything that an artist’s work is. In other words, I live when I work.

What is the significance of the technique you use?
EM: It has great significance. I use a number of different techniques. The use of a specific paint, material, binding agent or colour is a very tangible thing. The way the material spreads, or some other particular characteristic that affects the coincidental movement in the picture is crucial. Especially in tempera paintings, an organic feel is essential.

………………. Read More from Galerie Anhava on Elina Merenmies.