Statement
The works of Sanna Myrttinen strive for interconnectedness. They act as gateways to stillness and unity in a disconnected world. The more the world falls apart, the greater the need to stay grounded and to weave and patch it together. Her works speak a language that bridges Eastern philosophy with her own Nordic heritage.
Biography
Having spent her early childhood in the sparsely populated region of Kajaani, Finland, Myrttinen has always felt a close connection to nature. In the winter months, she would as a kid often tag along to the local weaving studio, where she would sit between the looms and draw on paper rolls from the local paper mill where her dad worked. In this way, a connection between crafts/weaving, paper and nature slowly began to emerge.
After initially completing a M.Sc in Forestry at the university of Helsinki and working in the European sawmill- and paper industry, Myrttinen finally decided to pursue her dream of studying art in 2002. Through her studies at Växjö University (now Linnaeus University) and the university’s close ties to Japan, she was able to access the university’s invaluable books on classical Japanese art. In search of her own visual language, these books seemed like a refreshing change from the European styles and -isms. It was the tranquility, the emphasis on emptiness and the aesthetic concepts of Eastern philosophies that deeply resonated with her and began to form her artistic path.
Extensive travels to South East Asia, a keen interest in the ancient Chinese teachings of Feng Shui, as well as in Taoism and Zen Buddhism, further influenced her style and use of color. Her motifs, colors and compositions started to carefully align with these teachings and philosophies.
An introduction to the fine art of Hitsuzendo (Japanese Zen Calligraphy) with the zen monk Dokko-An Kokugyo Kuwahara, was another stepping stone for Myrttinen to begin exploring the highly meditative and challenging art of ink painting. Inspired by the ink works of Japanese artist Joshio Ikezaki, Myrttinen began to develop her own style, moving from oil and acrylic landscapes to increasingly minimalistic ink works depicting imaginary landscapes joining elements from the North and the Alps, where she now lives.
In the past few years, she has also challenged herself in embracing new media and techniques. Going back to her roots, she has experimented with paper weaving, as well as with the ancient art of mosaicing, knot making and interlacing. By combining these traditional forms of handicraft, Myrttinen has not only created her own interdisciplinary form of expression, but also showcased how seemingly opposing materials such as paper, glass and yarn can form ways of interconnecting.
When not painting or experimenting with interdisciplinary projects, Myrttinen enjoys working on her book series “The Adventures of Feliz”. It is her first series that she is both writing and illustrating.
Sanna Myrttinen is a member of the German BBK (Bundesverband Bildender Künstlerinnen und Künstler e.V.), the German Professional Association of Visual Artists. Her studio lies on a farm above lake Starnberg, amidst the beautiful, hilly Bavarian countryside. She spends her free-time climbing, hiking, skiing and kayaking with her partner and Phoebe, their Basset Griffon Vendeen. She is also an active member of the environmental organisation Fans For Nature (www.ffn.org) and has been continuously supporting their projects to preserve the last remaining orangutans since 2008.
