Pakkoajatus Paremmasta (Intrusive thought about recovering)

Milla Tarpio
@neutralisoitu
46 x 41 cm
Oil on canvas, 2026
 
My work is about overcoming obsessive-compulsive disorder. The illness affects mood, behavior, eating, and movement, and it can be an extremely isolating mental condition. Unpleasant, intrusive thoughts may suddenly appear at any moment. In the piece, the grapes seem slightly out of place on closer inspection, as if they had been glued or photoshopped onto a calm yet melancholic landscape. The fruit symbolizes creativity, celebration, and transformation. Perhaps this piece is the beginning of the healing process and peace of mind.
 
Milla Tarpio is a Helsinki-based painter whose work explores vivid color studies and dreamlike surreal worlds. Through strange creatures and uncanny spaces, she reflects human emotion, mental health, and the pressures of a high-performance society. Tarpio works across charcoal, pastel, oil, watercolor, and mixed media, frequently using impasto techniques to create rich texture and depth. Her studies in art conservation further inform her understanding of materiality and painting methods.