Familiar feelings expressed as endearing, tragicomic figures.
Ojanen’s creatures are surreal and deeply human at the same time. Each has a life of its own made up of droopy, worm-like expressions, bugged eyes, and odd flappy growths. Depicted across sculpture, painting and drawing, Ojanen uses a palette of pastel hues occasionally punctured by bursts of bright colour. The works contribute to the eclectic international resurgence of ceramics in contemporary art, from Grayson Perry to Yun Hee Lee. The works are inspired by DIY zine culture, as well as popular iconic cartoons like Garfield and Futurama. This sense of play runs throughout Ojanen’s practice,...
Bio
Joakim Ojanen was born in 1985 in Sweden, where he continues to live and work.
Career
Ojanen left behind the beginnings of a career in animation and video production when he began to feel that commercial projects were dampening his creativity. In the years since, an uninhibited and eccentric, internationally-acclaimed practice has blossomed.
Did you know?
While centred on the artist's own memories and emotions, his works also draw inspiration from an enduring passion for rap music by artists such as Drake, Wu-Tang Clan and Young Thug.