Marko Turunen

(Finish – 1973)

Macacos me Mordam!
Drawings and transparencies 
July 1 2023 – September 16th 2023



Macacos me mordam! (Monkeys bite me!), is the name of the exhibition by Marko Turunen (Kotka, Finland 1973) that brings together images drawn over almost two decades. One can find both humor and suffering in this title, an old Portuguese expression. These two elements are a common duo when exploring Turunen's art. They are protagonists, in many cases. Just like the “ordinary” and the “extraordinary” or the “boring” and the “exciting”. In all these cases, it is a matter of “contrasts”. Turunen uses contrast to fuel his work.

In the title of the exhibition there is a contrast between the horrible and the funny. For Turunen, the process is similar to what happens when you observe opposite colors placed side by side. You can see something happen where the colors touch. The boundary line vibrates. It's mesmerizing, but difficult to look at, eyes start to hurt right away.

In Tinta nos Nervos, four distinct sets of works are presented that share the same vocabulary and the same power of images. The first one features a series of individual drawings or drawings belonging to the same story, drawn in black ink in an almost childlike enjoyment of inventing stories and characters that incorporate the fascination for series B films or stories of north American Far West. A second, with the figures and spaces of the story of “The Bear and the Mouse” being born as grattage on the polycopied acrylic sheets in black, accentuating the drama of the plot. A third, in which the polychrome figures are placed on transparencies, acquiring the charm of fragility and the effectiveness of the highlighted action. Finally, two large prints maintain the cinematographic evocation, but refer more to the composition of posters and less to that magic of the isolated frame on a film.

Through the different supports, compiling what has been the recurrent theme of his works, beings from the other world and many oddities of this world transit, with bears and extra-terrestrials from other galaxies, cowboys, gunmen and diverse creatures from the far, far, west, in a kind of creative and surreal non-sense.

Marko Turunen:

Here is a short CV by the artist himself:


“Marko Turunen (Kotka, Finland 1973) is a son of wrestler and construct worker but also an artist living in Finland. 

He has graduated as a sculptor (Arts Academy/Turku polytechnic 1997) but most visible part of his artistic output consists of comics and illustrations. Turunen’s graphic novels have been published in Finland as well as in France, Germany, Italy and Portugal. 

He has won first prize in the short story category of the Nordic comics competition in 2000 and in 2003 he was the winner of the comics competition organized by the Fumetto comics festival in Switzerland. In 2004 he was finalists in the best new car driver competition in Finland. He didn´t win. 2007 he recieved the Finnish Comic Society’s Puupää award, the highest recognition for a distinguished comic artist in Finland. 

Turunen has illustrated numerous magazines and newspapers plus some books and one pizza box. His artwork has been shown in many places like museums, galleries, fitting rooms and public toilets. Recently Turunen debuted as a photographer. Collection of photos of Turunen’s dog was published in early summer 2023. 

The Barber of Turunen said that Turunen has more hair on his head than people in average. The barber is forced to make his hair thinner so it looks like normal hair. In other places he has almost no hair at all. Although there is some hair on his toes as well. Turunen’s irregular interests include collecting old VHS and beta -tapes, reading and having sex. His regular pastime is watching tv. Matriculation examination, Langinkoski senior high school 1992 Artist degree, Turun Piirustuskoulu (Arts Academy, Turku) 1997”