“HoldFast” is a series of works completed in 2024, which includes drawings and oil paintings.

“The name of the exhibition “Hold Fast” is an English term for survival, for enduring, for holding one’s course despite difficulties, sticking to one’s principles in order to overcome difficult times. It was a traditional knuckle tattoo among sailors.

Holding on tight and weathering the storm without being washed away by the crashing waves to perdition is a thought that worked on both a physical and mental level. On the one hand, you actually hold on to the ropes, which are the only threads of life, and on the other hand, you endure the mental burden without falling into despair and bitterness. This is a danger that always lurks in the face of which one should not give up, but stick to it and take care of even the little shreds of hope and crumbs of love that we encounter on our paths.

At the same time, it is a philosophy where the central idea is to hold with one hand and help others in need with the other. When you have first anchored yourself firmly and held on tightly, you can remove your other hand from the railing and support a friend or patch a leaking side.

When life itself is an endless relinquishment, it is of the utmost importance to recognize and acknowledge the nuggets of gold that you don’t want to wash away from your fingers. Holding on to love with tooth and nail and making sure that there are always enough nutrients under it.”

—Sampsa Indrén

Sampsa Indrén studied as a Master of Arts in Aalto University’s Fine Arts education program led by Teemu Mäki in 2012. Since then, he has worked as a full-time visual artist. Indrén’s works include e.g. In state art collections and numerous private collections in Finland and abroad. He has participated in exhibitions around Finland and abroad, e.g. in Russia, the United States and Germany. He has also been curated for several domestic and international joint exhibitions, fairs and events. Indrén is actively involved in the organization of his field and has held several positions of trust over the years. He belongs to several artist groups, collectives and board assemblies of artist-led galleries, and has also taught painting to children, teenagers, adults and art professionals.

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