Project Room: Those Moments After: Elina Ojakangas

Known for her thoughtful approach to oil painting, Ojakangas creates works that deconstruct and reimagine reality, offering fresh perspectives through striking contrasts and fluid, rounded forms.

Drawing from her own life, this series explores the aftermath of personal experiences and the emotions they’ve left behind. Her simplified colour palette highlights the tension between the sharp edges of the backgrounds and the softer, human shapes of her figures, creating pieces that feel intimate yet universally resonant. Each painting stands alone but also contributes to a larger story, weaving together a reflection on life’s pivotal moments. The characters she paints, inspired by real people, bring a sense of authenticity and connection to her art.

What makes her work so engaging is the balance she achieves between contrasting emotions. There’s a sense of sorrow and struggle, but also hope and playfulness, making her pieces both introspective and uplifting. Her structured process and attention to symbolic detail add depth, turning each painting into a layered narrative that draws the viewer in.

Those Moments After showcases Ojakangas’ ability to surprise and captivate. Her paintings aren’t just beautiful - they’re invitations to pause, question, and explore.

Those Moments After will be on display at in our Project Room 9th January - 1st February 2025, with a drinks reception held on Thursday 16th January, 6-8pm.