Jaakko Mattila

Finnish abstract painter Jaakko Mattila's paintings and prints, with their fragile forms and deep wells of colour and light, hold an intrinsic sense of optimism. 'Works on Paper' is the artist's first monograph, presenting over 300 images of formal explorations and commissioned artworks from a twelve-year period. The book opens with what Mattila calls 'a mistake': a coloured dot with a drip of paint running from it. The mark, signalling new possibilities, would prove to be the foundational element in his oeuvre. Essays and an interview with the artist provide insight into Mattila's works, with contributions from Tomi Moisio, Jean Ramsay, Mike Watson, and psychologist Göte Nyman.