Jouni Airaksinen

Ladder, 2025
At Kuopio City Theatre

I asked artificial intelligence what my work means. I got answers that are probably all true, but something is still missing.

Answer A work depicting a ladder can be meaningful in many ways. Ladders have long been used as symbols in art.

Here are some interpretations that can be made of an artwork depicting a ladder:

Answer

Progress and rise:
A ladder symbolizes upward movement and the achievement of goals. They may represent a striving toward spiritual enlightenment, social advancement, or the surpassing of one's own abilities. For example, the well-known story of Jacob's Ladder, a dream in which a ladder leads to heaven, has inspired countless works of art.

Connection and transition:
A ladder can represent a connection between two different levels, worlds, or states of being. They can be a bridge to the unknown or a path connecting heaven and earth, dreams and reality.

Difficulties and challenges:
Climbing a ladder requires effort. They can symbolize the challenges of life and the effort we must make to achieve our goals. Narrow, weak, or broken ladders can make the journey more dangerous or uncertain.

Everyday life and work:
A ladder is a concrete tool. In art, they may refer to everyday work, construction, or maintenance. In this context, a work of art could highlight the lives of workers or the beauty of craftsmanship. The feelings or thoughts that a work evokes in the viewer depend greatly on the context of the work.

The original sketch for the artwork is 20 years old.
Over the years, I have pondered the explanations offered by artificial intelligence, but none of them, either alone or in combination, are sufficient to fully explain the artwork. It remains a secret that compels me to make art.

Jouni Airaksinen, from Kuopio, graduated as a visual artist from the Kankaanpää Art School in 1984. He focuses on drawing and sculpture, as well as creating illusions. His works offer food for thought and, although they have dark undertones, also contain joy and humour.