OPEN THEME NOMINEE

“Wolf’s Hour” captures the profound, ethereal moment suspended between night and dawn—a liminal space in Finnish folklore known as "suden hetki", or the "Wolf’s Hour." It is a mystical time associated with deep dreams, spiritual vulnerability, and the boundary between the living and the spirit world. In this hour, nature and humanity blend, revealing a delicate balance of shadow and light, mortality and eternity. In the center, a serene female figure and a watchful wolf embody this mystical connection. The woman’s head is crowned with a wreath of a poisonous plant called "wolfs berry"/"sudenmarja"—a potent symbol of both beauty and danger. This wreath, adorned with the delicate, ghostly form of a wolf’s skull and ribs, speaks to the ancient bond between humans and wolves, honoring them as spiritual guardians and symbols of the untamed wilderness. The skull itself serves as a memento mori, a powerful reminder of life’s transience, blending death’s somber touch with the vitality of nature. The vibrant palette of royal purple and sacred gold illuminates the figures, casting them in an aura of mysticism. Purple evokes a sense of spirituality and otherworldliness, while gold symbolizes transcendence and the divine. These colors hint at the coexistence of earthly and celestial realms, transforming the scene into a sacred tableau that honors both life and death. The brilliant gold backdrop, like a solar or lunar halo, suggests the cyclical nature of existence and the balance between opposing forces—light and shadow, wildness and calm. The texture and detail throughout the painting draw viewers into a dreamscape that echoes the melancholy beauty of Finnish melancholic mentality and humain yearning for something beyond the reach of mortal understanding. The wild greenery and scattered berries at the base represent the forest’s dark beauty, symbolizing the mysteries of nature and the primal force that wolves embody. They invite viewers to contemplate the untamed depths within themselves, to connect with the ancient spirits that dwell in nature. Wolfing Hour´refers to the ancient worlds of the Kalevala and Finnish folklore, where nature is both feared and cherished, and where human souls dance with spirits of the forest and the dead. It also suggests that mortal beaty and esthetics posess goddesslike powers. “Wolf’s Hour” invites the viewer to pause and honor the mysterious beauty of the natural world and the ancient ties that bind all living beings. It serves as a place of reflection and sanctuary, where one can rest in the presence of the wild, the sacred, and the unknown.