Elena Kiannu

Elena Kiannu | Haverwerf Mechelen

Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the “Botanical Garden” collection? How did the pandemic influence its creation?

“Botanical Garden” is a vibrant tribute to nature’s untamed beauty. Inspired by my travels, memories, and everyday moments, the series captures the dynamic interplay of plants and flowers in a world where chaos and harmony coexist.

Born during the solitude of the pandemic, Botanical Garden began as a creative refuge—an escape into lush, imagined landscapes where plants and trees that wouldn’t normally grow together form a perfect, dreamlike harmony. Each piece is completed with details drawn from my imagination, blending memory and fantasy into a single canvas.

Your work beautifully captures the “harmonious disarray” of nature. How do you approach translating this natural chaos onto the canvas?

By spending time in nature and truly observing it, I try to slow down and connect with my surroundings—plants, trees, even the smallest weeds. This process becomes a kind of meditation, which later finds its reflection on the canvas.

In the rush of everyday life, it’s easy to overlook nature’s subtle beauty. Through my paintings, I aim to bring that beauty to the forefront—combining lush greenery with wild, unexpected elements. To me, this mix of the cultivated and the untamed is what creates true harmony.

How have your travels and daily encounters with nature shaped the themes and visuals in your artwork?

My travels have been an important source of inspiration for this collection. During the pandemic, when we were confined within our walls, I found myself revisiting past journeys through memory. In a way, painting became a form of time travel—allowing me to return to places I had once explored and bring fragments of those experiences into my imagined landscapes.

Elena Kiannu | Botanical Garden

The “Botanical Garden” series has received significant recognition, including a piece showcased in Venice. How has this recognition impacted your artistic journey?

I’m deeply grateful for the recognition my work has received. It has taught me to value my own artistic voice and helped me grow more confident in my style. Having my paintings exhibited not only in Venice, but also in Belgium and Finland, feels like a quiet affirmation that I’m on the right path. Each opportunity encourages me to keep exploring, evolving, and sharing my vision with others.

With around 30 paintings in the “Botanical Garden” series, what has been the most challenging and rewarding aspect of this project?

With such a long series, one of the biggest challenges has been staying fresh and continuing to surprise myself. I’m my own first critic, so I constantly push myself to go beyond repetition and find new energy in each piece. At the same time, that’s also the most rewarding part—discovering unexpected combinations, new color stories, or a detail that brings the whole painting to life. It keeps the process alive and meaningful.

How do you hope viewers will feel or reflect upon when they experience your “Botanical Garden” series?

I think the first thing that captures the viewer’s attention is the use of color. I carefully blend cheerful, calm, and sometimes nostalgic combinations to create a certain mood. The details in each painting invite people to pause and explore. I hope my flowers evoke personal memories—whether joyful or bittersweet—because flowers are often present during meaningful moments in life. They mark celebrations, goodbyes, and everything in between.

Elena Kiannu | Botanical Garden

Are there any specific plants or flowers that you find yourself repeatedly drawn to in your work? If so, why?

When I started planning the Botanical Garden series, I wanted all the paintings to feel connected—not just through the theme, but also through a visual element that ties them together. That’s why I chose to include eucalyptus in each background. It became a subtle, repeated motif that brings cohesion to the collection, while still allowing each piece to have its own unique atmosphere.