Comments on: Darkness and Light: The Drawings of Helena Tiainen

By: Blair Cuppernell

Blair Cuppernell — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 22:37:53 +0000

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By: Maja Saphir

Maja Saphir — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 06:03:39 +0000

What Freud, Darwin, and Beethoven may have done for some, Helena’s work may do the same for another. What I find important in her work is that she is not afraid to explore and act on her intuitions and has found a strong visual outlet. What drew me to Helena’s work was the dynamic maze of figurative and non figurative illustration in a single piece, carrying the viewer in a sort-of back and forth movement, strongly reflecting what could be the artists’ stream of consciousness- a personal private thought or a reaction to contemporary issues.

By: Phil Barcio

Phil Barcio — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 05:48:29 +0000

Jack, to paraphrase a great insight, if you are going to take the measure of an artist, take the full measure. Your comment does not relate to Helen’s quote. It relates to your paraphrasing of Helen’s quote. Ironically, you validate Helen’s comment that, “if openly perceived it can unlock new ways of seeing and being to the viewer.” You are not open to this work, and that is your prerogative not to open yourself to it.

As for your personal roll call of “transformational” individuals, those people apparently transformed you and that is wonderful. But that doesn’t mean they are universal in their ability to transform. And into what have they transformed you if you harbor such bitterness?

By: Helena Tiainen

Helena Tiainen — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 03:08:23 +0000

In response to Jack Kessler’s criticism. Perception is in the eye of the beholder. I never stated that the work will open anything for you. I stated that it can. This does not come from any form of pompousness. All art has the ability to open new doors for a viewer that has the eyes and understanding to perceive this. This is something that is inneate to any form of art. My response that got quoted was in response to a question that asked in what way my art was revolutionary. I see my work as transformational, not revolutionary. What does something to one person may not do the same thing to another. I did not mean anything pompous with my statement and am sorry that you see it that way. I am not asking you to agree with me but I am certainly not coming from anything pompous.

By: Jack Kessler

Jack Kessler — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 22:53:47 +0000

“I am not sure I would call my work revolutionary. I think I would call it transformational. I do believe that if openly perceived it can unlock new ways of seeing and being to the viewer.” – Helena Tiainen

Isn’t it more than a little pompous for her to suggest that her pictures are “transformational”, that they “unlock new ways of seeing and being to the viewer”? Beethoven does that. Darwin did that. Freud did that. I am not sure Helena Tianen does.

By: Frank Turris

Frank Turris — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:00:34 +0000

I especially enjoyed this article because Phil gave his personal interpretations of much of what Tiainen is doing, rather than having the bulk of the interview consist of quotations from the interview with the artist.

I believe that artists especially appreciate seeing how they appear through the eyes of another rather than simply seeing their own thoughts reproduced in print.

I thank Tikkun and Phil for continuing to expand the artistic horizons of its readers. Excellent job, Phil!

Frank Turris