Exh. Concept: Rock Painting

The Finnish character is often described with the word sisu — a term without precise equivalent elsewhere. It speaks of resilience, persistence and a will that does not yield, even when met with stone. This understanding deepened during the Second World War, when Finland resisted Stalin’s invasion and preserved its independence under overwhelming odds.

The imbalance was immense — much greater than in the conflicts of our own time. Finland had only 3.7 million inhabitants, while the attacking nation numbered 170 million. Yet in these circumstances, the essence of Finnishness crystallised: the capacity to stand firmly on one’s own ground and defend the very right to exist.

The foundation of Finland — both literally and symbolically — is bedrock. It rises along our shores, in river valleys shaped by the Ice Age, and within the quiet mental landscape shared across generations. These cliffs are more than grey granite; they are part of an ancient nature-oriented worldview, a spiritual terrain where early Finns sensed presence, guardianship and depth.

The immaterial painting series Rock Painting leads the viewer into this inner core of Finnishness.