Kaj Stenvall’s war paintings in extensive exhibition

Painter Kaj Stenvall’s Ukraine themed paintings will be on display in a large exhibition in Art House Turku this summer. The paintings, having attracted broad international interest as well, give an overview of Russia’s war of aggression and the background to the crisis that has shaken the world for more than a year.

The exhibition is a standpoint for peace and against the war as well as an expression of support for Ukraine’s battle.

I want to show that art can be used to influence, create debate and also touch people, Kaj Stenvall says.

The exhibition Faces of War, arranged in Art House Turku, consists of around 80 paintings. The artworks mainly depict the war, which broke out in February 2022, and the central figures in the conflict, for instance the presidents of Ukraine and Russia, Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin.

The paintings are exhibited for the first time in this extent to the broad public. The exhibition also comprises Stenvall’s paintings dating back to the source of the war, that is the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and other global phenomena with links to the crisis.

The initiative to the exhibition came from Taiko, the online store for Finnish art, and it is produced by Kaj Stenvall, Art House Turku and Taiko.

Historical events have through time been documented through art. Kaj Stenvall’s paintings portray in a unique way one war and its background. It is an honor to bring these paintings before the public, Jere Pensikkala and Patrik Edman, the CEOs of Art House Turku and Taiko, conclude. 

Kaj Stenvall’s exhibition Faces of War is on display in Art House Turku 16.6–6.8.2023. The exhibition is open daily 11:00–18:00 except during Midsummer 23–25.6.

Partners in the exhibition are Drama Queen Communications, Painotalo Painola and Ilonalt Creative.

Besides the physical exhibition Taiko arranges a sales exhibition online with other paintings by Kaj Stenvall during 1.6–31.8.