Joakim OjanenJoakim Ojanen

Ojanen entered into the arts through graffiti through which led him to use animation programs and make short movies and music videos. He also pursued drawing, publishing fanzines and organizing art shows. These endeavours led to his BA for Illustration and Graphic Design in 2012 from Konstfack University College of Arts, Crafts and Design, as well as his MFA in 2014 thereafter. Seeking a new creative outlet apart from illustrations, Ojanen signed up for a ceramics open studio session outside of school. It was during these sessions that he started to make sculptures from his drawings. Since then, he has exhibited widely from Stockholm to Los Angeles, Cologne and Paris, Edinburgh, Belgium and New York. Ojanen's works feature a variety of unique characters. Many of the motifs are based on his home country and living environment where Ojanen grew up. At first glance, the artist's deep emotions and sensations are directly reflected in original expressions that seem innocent, such as raw textures and expressive characters that can be seen in sculptures and paintings, and unique color sense that puts them together. In recent years, his expression has extended to include various materials such as bronze, glass as well as ceramics, and all works have been united into high-level expressions that emphasize the affinity between materials and expressions. Regardless of the material, Ojanen's advanced technology and creativity are clearly visible.