Art: Paintings by Nanna Susi

Paintings Like a Woman and Like a Man were painted by Nanna Susi in 2008 to celebrate the 160th anniversary of Kalevala, Finland’s national epic.

The theme of the oil paintings on canvas is the Wedding in Pohjola. They portray the daughter of Pohjola and the blacksmith Ilmarinen, who are the bride and the groom. The artworks examine the demands and expectations that are associated with womanhood and manhood. Kalevala’s strong characters have inspired artists in Finland for decades.

Nanna Susi (b. 1967) is one of the most prominent contemporary artists in Finland. She graduated as Master of Arts from the Academy of Fine Arts in Helsinki in 1997. Since then her works have been on display around the world. Susi paints in an expressive style, using thick layers of paint and strong pigments.

The paintings are borrowed from Helsinki Art Museum (HAM).