Interview

Feb 20

Jaana Kivi

Jaana Kivi is a multi-talented artist whose works feature neo-surrealism or magical realism with a little touch of abstract. She’s skilled in both mixed media as well as classical oil techniques.

For Jaana, art is a way to express the conflict between the inner and outer world. Through art, she strives for an alternative world to unfold powerful ways.

Currently, Jaana is working in Helsinki, Finland. Her studio is compact and contains multiple art supplies like oils, acrylics, spray paints and inks.

Jaana’s process is strong, bold, and definite. She fulfils her artworks with high energy, and her process is driven by a strong vision. She loves to leave evidence and a record of her marks and brushstrokes. When looking at her artworks you will see a lot of variety and changes, but her voice remains.

What is your background and how did you start your journey?

“From an early age, art was my form of self-expression. Ever since childhood, I knew that art was the only rule to follow—to observe humanity and understand living through my own perspective. Thanks to my nonconformism, I knew I wanted to be an artist. Later, I studied media design, audiovisual arts and creative writing. I even had a career as a journalist.
I felt I needed to change my path and destroy all the walls that kept me still. Breaking my way into artistic freedom, I shifted into fine art and found my way to the Mastery Program of Milan Art Institution. During those studies, I ascertained my voice to be related to the deeper liberation of being human, and the creation of the new inner and ultimately outer world. In the end, that realization made me a professional artist.”

What inspires you most?

“Music has a strong influence on my art, and I often listen to music while painting. Music helps me structure my thoughts during the creative process, and it sometimes transports me into a meditative state where time disappears.
Movies and photography also play a huge role in my inspiration. Science fiction and post-apocalyptic scenarios are highly in my favor. My creativity is ignited by any illustrations where the world as we know it has collapsed, and a new world has started to be reborn. That’s why descriptions of alternate worlds or dimensions make me shiver.
I’m working as both an artist and writer. When I'm writing, I'm inspired by the exact same imagery as when I'm painting. My debut science fiction novel will be published in 2023.”

What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?

“I want my artworks to evoke in the viewer some strange attraction. That they may sense an energy that fascinates, but perhaps cannot immediately be understood. The power of change is a part of life; the idea of metamorphosis is continuing. Through my art, I want to embrace the beginning of something new.
I also hope that viewers can feel the invitation to discover their dark side, and the fascination to explore and own it. That’s why the stories I want to tell always include a seed of change.”

“My art offers an alternative way of looking at normative life.
I believe that creating a new alternative world can be found outside the reality as we know it.”

How would you describe your work?

“The key elements of my artwork are surrealism, magical realism, and figurative narratives. The characters in my work often have a twinkle in their eye, and the atmosphere is a little mysterious. My desire is to plant the seed of change in those who view my work. I want to awaken the inspiration to find oneself, to invite the viewer to explore their passions and fight against the rules that might keep them small.
As Liliana Sanchez, the art curator of M.A.D.S. Art Gallery said, ‘Jaana’s artworks catch the viewer’s attention, create some intrigue and empower the spectators to study and appreciate their own contradictions, visions, intuitions, bodies and souls.”

Which artists influence you most?

“I’ve always been gripped by surrealism. From an early age, I admired the ability to break the boundaries of realism. Old masters like the Caravaggio stylization of light and shadow are one of my favorites.
On the other hand, the artist’s ability to harness a certain kind of popular culture or capitalism criticism fascinates me. I’d hope that the art challenges me as a viewer technically and content-wise. These are a few contemporary artists that I would say I admire: SJ Fuerst, Dimitra Milan, Jessi Dahlquist, Jarek Kubicki, Thomas Hollbach, Irene Perez, Maldha Mohamed, Henrik Uldalen, Erik Johansson, and Aykut Aydogdu.
I also admire the works of Finnish artists Emmi Mustonen, Viljami Heinonen and Tuomas Gustafsson. However, not all the artists I admire directly influence my own style.”

What is your creative process like?

“I always start with a careful design. It’s important to me to plan the theme and story I want to tell with my artwork. After that, I create a scene, building a source image from several different images using photo editors. Then I print the image and use it as a manuscript or sketch for what will eventually form on the canvas.
Often, the picture changes a lot, but this kind of process suits my artistic style and my personality. I also leave a space for chance to take its place on the canvas. Often, backgrounds, drippy style and textures arise by themselves without planning.
My art is a combination of design and creative coincidences. I always paint multiple layers and therefore there are many working steps in my process, but still my vision stays clear.”

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What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?

“The role of an artist in today’s society is to remind people that the freedom to pursue their own purpose is their basic right. However, building this freedom requires dismantling everything that doesn’t work. Through the artists’ visions, every dysfunctional rule and structure is found to be outdated.
Artists lead by example, showing the courage to break free from restraints and go their own way. They act as the shape-shifters and creators of a new world. Artists are the pioneers of how anyone can claim back their energetic sovereignty and ability to create, and thus their freedom. They show that it’s time to create a new and better world.”

Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?

“My upcoming exhibitions in 2023 are as follows:
- Group exhibitions in Europe.
- The Art Fair exhibit Carrousel du Louvre in Paris.
- ARTIST TALK MAGAZINE’s digital exhibition in Broadway Plaza, Times Square NYC.
In 2022, I participated in:
- Twelve different exhibitions in London, Europe and Finland.
- Experimental art projects and events. An example is the Spanish M.A.D.S. Art Gallery’s digital exhibition event in December 2022 that was organized at the UNESCO World Heritage site Casa Mila La Pedrera by Brain Cake. My artworks were running in digital form on the screens installed on the walls of the landmark of modern architecture, Casa Milan.”