This catalogue was published in 2012 for the solo exhibition of Finnish painter Kati Riikonen (born 1974) at Ricardo Fernandes Gallery in Paris. Curated and staged by Ricardo Fernandes, with critical contributions by Miia Siven, the exhibition explored the emotional and historical weight carried by wartime correspondence in Finland. Drawing from letters exchanged between soldiers and their families, Riikonen created a series of works that reflect the intimate realities of conflict: the quiet fears, the longing, the daily routines preserved in writing, and the unspoken trauma that shaped entire generations.

Riikonen approached this subject with deep personal sensitivity. Her own family history, marked by the loss of relatives during the war, gave her a unique connection to the material. This emotional proximity allowed her to translate the complexity of these experiences into paintings that are both poetic and grounded in reality. The works presented in the exhibition reveal a delicate balance between memory and interpretation, offering a visual language that conveys the fragility of human bonds in times of upheaval.

The catalogue documents this poignant project and situates it within the artist’s broader practice, which often addresses themes of vulnerability, remembrance and the traces left by personal and collective histories. Printed in a limited edition of 300 copies, the publication has become a collectible item. It includes texts in English, French and Finnish, providing a comprehensive perspective on an exhibition that resonated strongly with audiences for its emotional depth and historical relevance.