Emma Ainala: Like a Prayer

The protagonists of the paintings are often girls and women who linger in open nature or in enclosed rooms. Some of them have turned into spiders or snakes. One has acquired features of a sphinx, and others of a centaur. The exhibition presents Ainala's works from the last ten years.The title of the exhibition, Like a Prayer, refers, according to Ainala, both to painting and to looking at artworks. In both situations, a person is in the presence of the unknown. At such times, it is worth letting go of control and trusting one's instincts. The detailed works contain abundant references to popular culture, fashion and art history. In her art, Ainala wants to defend the diversity of life: alongside confining roles, there can also be joy and possibilities. In the works, women are equated with pets and disappear into the furnishings, but they also glow with light in the dark.