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The 40th Anniversary Year of Artist Hanna Varis’ Career Culminates at Joella Gallery, October 23 – November 17, 2024
The celebratory exhibition of artist Hanna Varis’ 40-year career will reach its peak at Joella Gallery from October 23 to November 17, 2024. The exhibition arrives in Varis’ hometown directly from Madrid, where it was showcased at the Finnish Institute. Throughout 2024, the exhibition has toured both Finland and abroad.
Hanna Varis is a well-known Finnish graphic artist and painter. Her exhibition “Travel Images and Dreamtime Dreams” brings together captivating stories and visions from her life and career, as well as everyday wonders and beautiful landscapes — including those from her hometown of Turku.
Varis has worked extensively and continuously in the fields of printmaking and painting for 40 years. Over the course of her career, she has focused on metal graphics, works on paper, and combinations of the two. Her art features vivid colors and layered narratives. Varis’ work resembles an endless, layered exploration full of mythical charm and visual treasures that reveal new interpretations again and again.
“As a child, my favorite part of fairy tales was the magic. In visual art, I can merge magic with craftsmanship. I see everyday life as colorful and magical. Through art, I can create new worlds and stories, making hidden wonders visible. My subjects are born from emotions that move me; from beauty that stirs the soul, or insights from dreamlike adventures that I weave into the mysteries of daily life.”
Varis describes how, when inspired by a subject, she forgets about artistic trends and allows each piece to take its own shape.
“Stories and storytelling have always been a part of my work. My pieces have multiple dimensions, combining notes from years past with new ideas. I’m an explorer in time, an adventurous aesthete. Personal tragedies have shaped me into a fighter for beauty and joy. I strive for positivity and consciously aim to uplift the mood. I want to offer beauty, happiness, and gratitude for what we have,” says Hanna Varis.
From a young age, Hanna Varis aspired to become a professional visual artist. She earned her Master of Arts degree in 1990 and also trained as an art teacher and graphic designer. Over her career, she has held nearly 90 solo exhibitions in Finland, and her works have been featured in around 50 exhibitions abroad. She has participated in almost 200 invited group and collective exhibitions.