What is artistic practice – how does an artwork come into being? Antti Oikarinen has taken artistic identity as the starting point for his new works, approaching it from a deeply personal angle. He has tried to step alongside himself, observing his own ways of making art. Why does he create the kinds of works he does? What roles do reason and intuition play in the process; what kind of tension arises between them?

The exhibition’s unifying theme – the artwork, authorship, and the self – reflects fundamental aspects of human existence. The works offer a window into Antti Oikarinen, but they also invite visitors to reflect more broadly on the experience of understanding and the wonder of how meaning takes shape.

Working at the intersection of sculpture and painting, Oikarinen is known for works that are not always what they first seem. Introspective is a winding, demanding, humorous presentation that rewards attentive viewers with surprising insights. The exhibition consists mainly of new works, accompanied by three earlier pieces that resonate naturally with its themes.

The exhibition is produced by the Finnish Art Society, which celebrates its 180th anniversary in 2026.