Jaakko Mattila is a Finnish painter who graduated from The Surrey Institute of Art & Design University College, in 2001. Since then his works have been displayed in Finland, the United Kingdom, Italy and France.

Mattila’s abstract paintings are a reflection of his interest in the fundamental elements that create our sense, or illusion, of the world. His biggest inspiration comes from nature with other interests found in “constructive principles of the universe such as infinity, smallness, greatness and time”. He currently resides in Finland

1. What would you say is the most important theme in your work?
Now when I am writing this it is depth. in terms of space, colour, form and the process. someone once said that my painting is like thinking and i quite like that.

2. What’s most inspiring to your working process?
The process itself- having no other appointments in the calendar but just being able to work on something that I really want to see for myself. I get most new ideas when painting also. I haven’t used any sketchbooks since leaving art school but use my imagination as a really big and complex one. the great thing about it is that I can paint whenever i want. I like to push the work to develop, it is a long distance run rather than a sprint. all different mediums have their own unique twists but overall inspiration is at its best when paint is still wet.

3. Have you any strange talents that influence the work you produce or the way you produce it?
It must definitely be the ability to forget bad ideas and to remember the good ones when I have the means to produce them! Perhaps its got to do with intuition? Also a lot of really great things like the birth of my dot-watercolour paintings came from ‘a mistake’ originally. It’s that heureka-moment-ability to completely discard ‘original idea’ at times and head to the unknown.

4. Which artist of the past would you resurrect to collaborate with and why?
Pavel Filonov. I would like to have a dinner and a bottle of vodka with him. Then we would go and paint graffiti in Saint Petersburg night.

5. Do you think your work is understood or misinterpreted and why?
Yes and yes. Everything in this crazy world is always subjective, there is always someone who has a different opinion about anything. I would like to ultimately make paintings that appeal to everyone. bad reaction is better than no reaction. when work of art can change bad reaction into good one we are winning. I guess there is more art that is trying to say ‘something to be misunderstood’ whereas I am really trying to be much more primitive than that.

6. If you could decorate one place in the world what would it be and how would you do it?
I would make a huge cube piece on any big wall in Beirut where I recently was. Preferably on the big riverbank next to Borj-Hammoud.

7. What to date has been your ‘cherry on the cake’ moment and what was it that got you there?
I can’t seem to think of any …perhaps there is something like this coming my way soon? 🙂

8. What we ask everyone! Does your artistic style influence your underwear?
It must do somehow …most of my underwear is medium grey. I would say the median is 55-60% black!

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More info www.jaakkomattila.fi
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