Throwback Thursday – Jyrki Parantainen

I was visiting a friend the other day. Daniel is a great guy, has always been inspiring me in many ways. When I started to tell him about this blog, I m starting he looked at me and said: Hey… I think I have something you ‘ll really like. Do you know Jyrki Parantainen?

Jyrki who? And then he does a little online search, and he shows me this…

EARTH 9, 1991 JYRKI PARANTAINEN

This guy has been using light painting techniques on his work in the 80s and produced some fantastic imagery I ‘ve never heard of.

I knew my friend was right. This is a great “discovery” that I m sure all light painters will agree with me.

Best thing is that he actually lives in my city, so I m planning to try to get an interview with him.

Until that is ready here is some of his work. Enjoy

EARTH 3, 1989 JYRKI PARANTAINEN

EARTH 5, 1989 JYRKI PARANTAINEN

Jyrki Parantainen

Born in 1962 in Tampere, Finland he lives in Helsinki and works as Professor of Photographic Art in Aalto University.

a part of his artist statement:

“My artistic practice could be described as an endeavor to combine my own medium – photography – with other art forms. Alongside with photography, my practice almost without exception contains a preparation process similar to the writing of a script. It also resemblances sculptural methods, process art as well as painting; it is time consuming, physical, partly three-dimensional and chance plays a big role in it.

Shortly, the main themes in my bodies of work are usually dealing with the basics of being human: life and death, flesh and blood, love and hate.”

EARTH 12, 1991 JYRKI PARANTAINEN

EARTH 4, 1990 JYRKI PARANTAINEN

All images are © Jyrki Parantainen 

you can see some more of his work here.

check out other interesting articles from the Throwback Thursday section here