Kaìsla Laranta is an innovative visual artist and art therapist originally from Helsinki, now based in Barcelona. She infuses her contemporary still life art with a playful exploration of vibrant colors and patterns, revealing a childlike and naive essence. Laranta is deeply inspired by the ‘act of service’, a way to express love, and seeks to capture enchanting, figurative moments within her pieces. Her work stretches beyond visual art, as she engages with the natural wine scene and crafts food-based installations, offering a unique blend of artistic and culinary experiences.
So you’re based in Barcelona but have lived in Helsinki, Finland. How do the cities compare in terms of making work?
As a kid, we used to live in Italy and in south of France. After moving to Finland, something from that time stuck with me and I knew I wanted to go back. Even though Finland is a very beautiful country, it’s strange how the weather affects your mood. I recently went back there for some months during winter, and I would lack total inspiration since I mostly paint what I see around me and as you can see, all my art is very colorful, which you don’t have in Helsinki during the winter months. In Barcelona, I am constantly inspired by the life around me.
How did you get into art therapy? And why?
I was studying visual arts and discovered that my school offered art therapy studies as well. I didn’t know much about art therapy back then, but I have been interested in psychology and the human mind my whole life, so it called to me. I also went to a Steiner school as a kid and remembered how some kids had art therapy sessions and how they loved it. I strongly believe that art can be a tool to access the subconscious and lead to healing, especially for those who find speaking therapy difficult.
I also found out that art therapy aligns well with other holistic health approaches but relies heavily on science, which seemed like a perfect match for me. So, I applied to switch my studies to art therapy, got in, and after 4 years, graduated last summer.
How would you describe your artistic approach?
My approach is contemporary still life with naive, funny, childish elements. I try to paint purely as I like, since taking things too seriously can easily kill the joy and creativity in painting.
How did you get started as an artist?
Art has been a huge part of my life since I was a kid, as my mom and my aunt are painters. However, I seriously started during Covid when we were locked down for two months. I painted a lot on our communal terrace, as it was the only place I could get fresh air. I started to paint things I had experienced before the lockdown and felt joy in not trying too hard to create complicated meanings behind mysterious artworks, but just painting as I did when I was a kid. I posted some of them on Instagram, thinking people wouldn’t be interested, but the opposite happened, and thats how it all started.
It appears that you have many projects going on at the moment. What exactly are you working on now?
Haha, yes, as an ADHD Gemini, I feel like my whole life is a series of multiple projects inside one big project, a never-ending loop. At the moment, I’m working on a group show project, managing bar Manifest creative side /marketing and working with La Robina Natural wine winery with my dad in the south of France, to name a few.
How’s the Barcelona art scene?
I find the Barcelona art scene very open and welcoming. When I was in art school, one teacher said that all the artists live in Barcelona and all the art buyers in Madrid, but I feel like that’s changing. There are more interesting projects happening all the time and space for experimentation. I’m also a big fan of the mix of queer culture and art in Barcelona’s art scene.
Any words of advice for emerging artists?
I find this question always hard since everyone has their own journey, but from my perspective, you have to be brave and manifest that it will all work out. Take the leap and try it out at least. Trust yourself that if it’s your passion, you are doing it for the right reasons, and that’s enough.