Antonietta Grassi and Vickie Vainionpää: A Dialogue on Order and Chaos Through
Abstraction
The works of Antonietta Grassi and Vickie Vainionpää probe the complexities of order and
chaos through the lineage of abstraction. The two artists share many common concerns in
their work, including the interpretation of data, the power of line and form, and the tension
between order and non-order. Their individual gestures are both rigourous in their mathematical complexity, and fluid in their contemplative sense of movement. Employing a range of digital and mechanical technologies, both artists’ works ultimately emphasize the enduring importance of the handmade. Grassi and Vainionpää also share a deep connection to Eastern philosophies, particularly Buddhism, meditation and daily practice, with emphasis on the interconnection between all things and the underlying structure of the universe.
Antonietta Grassi’s work speaks to multiple histories, textiles, the pioneering role of women in
technology, labour, the lineage of abstraction and the painting processes as a daily meditative
practice. Through meticulous layering, chromatic nuances and visual interplays , her work
reflects a profound quest for harmony amidst chaos. Her paintings, which resemble weavings,
are palimpsests of hand painted lines and shapes, reflecting a process where intuitive gestures
and methodical precision coexist. She delves into personal and emotional landscapes, echoing
buddhist notions of impermanence. Through the intricate weaving of modular elements and
intersecting lines, she creates a visual tapestry that transcends representation, offering viewers
a glimpse into the artist's contemplative engagement with the world.
Vickie Vainionpää uses code as a medium to create generative oil paintings that examine the
infinite relationship between diameter, curve, and entanglement. Within these optical tubular
works, generative splines shift from rigid reflective surfaces to soft plush textures. Their digital
pathways fold and twist to create biomorphic forms simultaneously non-representational and
yet familiar. In Vainionpää’s world, the structure of the universe is "utterly wiggly," embracing
the fluidity of form to express the spiritual and emotional essence of the world. Like Grassi, she
finds solace in the meditative states achieved while painting, a process that connects her
deeply to Eastern themes of interconnection, nature, and the underlying network of all things.
Through their respective works, Grassi and Vainionpää offer viewers an invitation to
contemplate the human experience in relation to the broader universe. Questions of control,
consciousness, and infinitude echo across their surfaces. Their works serve as a testament to
the enduring quest for meaning and understanding through abstraction, and evoke a shared
sense of wonder and introspection, both within and beyond the plane of the canvas.