Enjoy The Ride 2022 oil & JEWELRY on stretched canvas. 92cm X 92cm

By Ame Indigo Kärkkäinen

Exhibited by Capital Culture House Oct 2022, apart of “MIRACULOUS”

‘Enjoy the ride’ tries to decipher the question of what is life about, and where does death play a part in it?

When I started this painting I was stuck in philosophical questions about life, and they were kind of starting to drive me mad. Then the universe started showing me signs that it hears me, and that I don’t need to ponder on questions that don’t really have clear and concrete answers to them.

Someone said the meaning of life is enjoying the passage of time, and I think that really made me feel relief that there doesn’t have to be anything bigger than that for life to have meaning and purpose.

In this piece you can see nine steps, which to me represent Endings but also new beginnings. Steps you’ll take in this lifetime. You can see that the steps go through these dark colors (hard times, rough patches) but they go towards a bright orange ball, which to me is joy, celebration, fun. That ball is existence itself. It rests in the middle of life and death, of chaos, uncertainty and releasing control, being in the present. The white space behind that orange is death, and I decided to decipher it in white because I think death is in its own way very beautiful and pure. It brings energy together to become one, and that’s why you can see the tiny white spots floating towards it, and those white spots are souls of living things who are moving on from this world.

So in the middle of these thoughts and creating this painting, I realize to just enjoy every single moment no matter what it is, because I’ll always be grateful for them no matter what. There’s always something to appreciate, even in chaos.

As all my paintings this one is also extremely personal to me, Since it’s the first creature I’ve painted with their breasts removed. Last few days of Pride 2022 so ofc I had to make something for the enbys, trans and gender nonconforming Queers!! Live your truth and if you can make life a little bit easier for you then u should always choose to be brave and take that step towards fulfillment!!