”This is something that has kept me busy and quiet – Yesterday I was hanging my first personal art exhibition in a few years titled “My smile, my misery” at Turun Kirjakahvila here in Turku, Finland.

This show and these works are definitely the most personal and hardest art-related thing I’ve ever done. About a year ago after I had tried to cope with various issues for so long, I suffered a mental breakdown and my story almost had a different end. Now a year later, after I’ve started to rebuild my life, I poured all the negativity and self-loathing, and at the same time, the hope for better things to come, into these works. The exhibition contains 12 works handmade paper collages, including 9 never before seen pieces I made just for this show. I have been on the verge to cancel this show so many times, but there they are hanging…. Who said art is easy?

So if you happen to be in Turku, check it out! And for out-of-towners, I have something coming for you…”

-Niko Vartiainen, 17.6.2020

“My smile, my misery” from June 17th until July 30th, 2020.