The paintings in this series do not immediately capture your attention with brilliance or spectacle. Instead, they ask us to pause — for example to sit down. They require time and stillness. Perhaps the viewer does too.
The Vital Functions is a visual inquiry into the soul of Homo sapiens. — Portraits of You, Me, our ancestors and future generations.
What does it mean to be human? To live as distinct individuals, and yet belong to something larger?
Biologically, our species has not undergone any significant changes in the last 200,000 years. Although the present-day technology has reached unimaginable heights, we, Homo sapiens, as a species, remain nearly the same.
This series of paintings offers a space for pause and contemplation — a moment to reflect on who we are.
Me and my Thoughts, Oil on canvas, 73×40 cm Maija G. Kaartama 2024
Sleeping Oil on canvas, 63×75 cm Maija G. Kaartama 2024
Conflict Oil on canvas triptych Maija G. Kaartama 2024
Breathe Oil on canvas 58x45cm Maija G. Kaartama 2024
Intergenerational transmission of information Oil on canvas triptych Maija G. Kaartama 2024
An Ode to Communication (a prior collection)
Enlightened conversation
acrylic on canvas 45x45cm 43x28cm Maija G. Kaartama 2023
Whisper
Acrylic on canvas 81x92cm Maija G. Kaartama 2023
Words to the heart
Acrylic on canvas 104x100cm Maija G. Kaartama 2023
Exchanging ideas
Acrylic on canvas 87×85 cm 20x20cm 36x90cm Maija G. Kaartama 2023
Portraits
Axel
Acrylic on canvas 40x40cm Maija G. Kaartama 2022
Felines
Oil on Canvas 45x32cm Maija G. Kaartama 2022
Miscellaneous paintings
Memory
Acrylic on canvas 100x105cm Maija G. Kaartama 2022