Harry Salmi
Harry Salmi (born 1980) is an experienced visual artist from Lahti, Finland and his work has been exhibited in both personal and group exhibitions both in Finland and abroad. Harry started with arts as a hobby at the Hollola School of Fine Arts for Children and Youth in 1986. Along the way, towards adulthood and being a visual artist, Harrys wild teenage years went by painting graffiti. He also studied graphic design and worked in advertising agencies for a short time. Finally, in 2011, after various twists and turns, Harry graduated as a visual artist from Lahti University of Applied Sciences, Institute of Design and Fine Arts. He felt strongly that he had found his own place.
As a painter, Harry Salmi likes the feeling of freedom, which he can experience again and again with his new works. Harry tells a Finnish visual story about the power of the mind. He paints abstract layered surfaces and rhythms on canvas. Painting is like playing the piano. Both require joint coordination of mind, eyes and hands. Contemporary Art activates his brain and also relieves stress. His images are formed by reducing the variations in the intensities of line, surface, point, color, mass and shape. Harry is a pioneer and experimenter of new acrylic techniques. He paints with acrylic markers, -spray, -inks, -heavy-body gel and -tube paints. He combines the tools of acrylic technique and look for new ways of visual expression and contrasts. His painting process is feeling empathy, exciting adventure, belief in courage and evolving. The right Mind-set, the way of thinking is the key to success in his artistic pursuits. Harry feels alive when he paints.
The mind is like a muscle - when you use it, it gets stronger. Harry Salmi wants the viewer of his visual art to experience the same emotions that he has had while making paintings. He considers it important in discussions to understand the importance of fine art for well-being. Visual art also unites people, especially now in this time when social media culture and technology are flourishing. We can all connect with each other in real time, e.g. on Instagram. Together we create synergy and global campfires and possible future development paths.
Harry gets his inspiration and artistic expression from varied international abstract art and jazz music. Harry has been painting art for 35 years and hopes to paint at least another 35 years. Harry spends his free time, especially in the summer, at his familys summer cottage on the shore of lake Isojärvi, Central Finland. He feels that the time spent there relaxes and strengthens his creativity and brings contrast to hectic city life.
