Emmi Tavela

Emmi Tavela (b. 1977) is a painter working mainly with tempera and oil colour. She lives on a small island in the outer archipelago of Porvoo. Tavela’s paintings are expressive and colourist. Her motifs rise from daily life, but there is often a greater existential theme or a question behind them. Tavela paints typically multiple versions of the same motif. She likes to explore with different colour combinations and composition.

Emmi Tavela

”Painting for me is a similar act to praying. I am constantly searching silence. And with silence I don’t mean something that is nothing, but rather a willingness to give up all your pretension and ambitiousness to be able to pursue a dialogue, either with God or with your painting. In my case preferably both. I think the creative process always includes parts that are secret and sacred.”