Helsinki Contemporary rounds off the year with its Winter Salon group exhibition, which has by now become an annual tradition. The gallery’s represented artists – Emma Ainala, Roland Persson, Anna Retulainen, Emma Sarpaniemi, Kaarlo Stauffer and Aki Turunen – are joined this year by two new names: Erno Pennanen and Riikka Sormunen. The Winter Salon creates a space for encounters and dialogue between diverse works and artistic practices, revealing unexpected parallels and connections.
In his paintings, Erno Pennanen explores what it means to be human. His subjects often include full-length portraits, everyday scenes and seemingly unremarkable objects. These are frequently imbued with a sense of stillness that underscores the transience of existence.