Minu 600-kilomeetrine teekond kultuuripealinna

In English below

Pühapäeva varahommikune start Tallinnast märkis üheksa kuud kestnud intensiivse loomeperioodi kulminatsiooni. Ees ootas enam kui 600-kilomeetrine teekond Helsingist põhja poole, et avada Oulus Euroopa kultuuripealinna programmi raames minu isikunäitus.  

Sõit läbi Soome pakkus tõelist kontrastide mängu. Kogesime kõike alates kirkast päikesest kuni tiheda lumesajuni, mis muutis nähtavuse minimaalseks. Professionaalses plaanis lisas pinget vastutus teoste turvalisuse eest – muuseumiklaasiga raamitud maalid on äärmiselt tundlikud nii temperatuurikõikumiste kui ka teekatte ebatasasuste suhtes. Üks ohtlik liiklusolukord raskeveokiga tuletas meelde, et tee eduka näituseni nõuab lisaks loomingulisele panusele ka raudset närvi ja logistilist täpsust.

Oulusse jõudes tabas meid aga erakordne visuaalne elamus. Kell pool seitse õhtul valitses linnas hämmastav valgus, mida võimendas puhas, rikkumatu lumekate. See "valge valgus" ja porivaba keskkond lõid ideaalse fooni eelseisvale näitusenädalale.

Esmaspäeva hommik tervitas meid roosaka koidukumaga, mis andis vajaliku energialaengu näituse ülespanekuks. Hanna Mannineni MABD galerii asub arhitektuurselt silmapaistvas hoones Oulu kesklinnas, otse lahesopi serval.

Näituse kujundamine nõuab alati süvenenud analüüsi. Kuidas juhtida inimest ruumis nii, et iga teos saaks väärilise tähelepanu? Minu loomingu puhul on valgusrežiim kriitilise tähtsusega. Jahe põhjamaine valgus võib värve "jahutada", samas kui liigne kollane spekter neelab teatud pooltoonid täielikult. Samuti on tähtis teoste omavaheline dialoog ja sobivus galeriipinnale, arvestades ka akendest tulevat loomulikku valgust.

Enne pidulikku avamist jätsime aega ka linnaruumiga tutvumiseks. Imetlesime Oulu puitarhitektuuri ja tegime visiidi linna sümboli, turuvalvuri (Toripolliisi) juurde. Sattusime ka Taliujumise maailmameistrivõistluste melu keskele, mis päädis humoorika vahejuhtumiga – püüdes ühest piirdeaiast läbi mahtuda, tabas Tarmo sulejope teravat serva. Järgnenud "sulepilv" ja Tarmo väärikas edasiliikumine heljuvas sulevines lisas muidu töisesse reisi vajalikku helgust.

Teisipäevane avamine ületas ootused. Publiku soe vastuvõtt ja professionaalne tunnustus on kunstnikule suurim tänu. Eriti liigutav oli kuulda kommentaare stiilis:"See on läbi aegade parim disaininäitus Oulus!"

Koduteel valdas mind aga kahetine tunne – ülev rõõm õnnestunud projektist ja samas teatav "loomejärgne tühjus". Üheksa kuud ettevalmistusi on saanud punkti. Kuigi mõte puhkusest pärast 2016. aastast kestnud katkematut tööd tundub ahvatlev, tean end piisavalt hästi – uued ideed ja põnevad väljakutsed on juba silmapiiril.

My 600-Kilometre Drive North to the Cultural Capital

Sunday’s early morning departure from Tallinn, Estonia, marked the culmination of nine months of intense creative work. Ahead lay a journey of over 600 kilometres north from Helsinki to open my solo exhibition in Oulu — a city currently in the spotlight as it is the European Capital of Culture.

Driving through Finland offered a true study in contrast. We experienced everything from brilliant sunshine to heavy snow squalls that reduced visibility to a minimum. From a professional standpoint, the pressure was heightened by the responsibility of transporting the artworks. Pieces framed with museum-grade glass are sensitive to temperature fluctuations and potholes. One close call with a heavy truck served as a sharp reminder that a successful exhibition requires not just creative input, but also iron nerves and logistical precision.

Upon arriving in Oulu, we were greeted by an extraordinary visual scene. At 6:30 PM, the city was bathed in an amazing northern light, amplified by a pristine, untouched blanket of snow. This "white light" and the dust-free environment provided the perfect backdrop for the exhibition ahead.

Monday morning welcomed us with a rosy dawn, providing the energy boost we needed to begin the installation. Galleria MABD, run by Hanna Manninen, is situated in an architecturally striking building in the heart of Oulu, right on the edge of the bay.

Designing an exhibition layout always requires careful analysis: how to guide visitors through the space so that each work receives the attention it deserves? For my work, the lighting is critical. The cool Nordic light can "chill" the colours, while an overly yellow spectrum can swallow certain mid-tones entirely. It is also vital to create a dialogue among the pieces and ensure they harmonize with the gallery space and the natural light streaming through the large windows.

Before the formal opening, we took some time to explore the city. We admired Oulu’s historic wooden architecture and visited the city’s iconic symbol, the Bobby at the Market Place (Toripolliisi statue).

We found ourselves in the middle of the buzz surrounding the Winter Swimming World Championships (a major international event hosted in Oulu), which led to a humorous incident. While trying to squeeze through a fence, my partner Tarmo’s down jacket caught on a sharp edge. The resulting "cloud of feathers" and Tarmo’s dignified walk through a haze of floating down added a much-needed moment of levity to an otherwise busy working trip.

Tuesday’s opening exceeded all expectations. The warm reception from the public and professional recognition are the greatest rewards for any artist. It was especially moving to hear comments such as: “This is the best design exhibition Oulu has seen in years!”

On the way home, I felt a dual sensation—the immense joy of a successful project, but also that specific "post-creative void." Nine months of preparation have concluded. Although the thought of a break after working non-stop seems tempting, I know myself well enough—new ideas and exciting challenges are already appearing on the horizon.

Villan luomoa ja unelmia

The magic of wool and dreams

Vuosi sitten minulla oli selkeä visio: halusin luoda täydelliset villapeitteet. Niiden toteuttamiseen tarvitsin kumppanin, joka jakaisi saman intohimon laatuun ja käsityöhön.

Kohtalo, tai sattuma, johdatti minut takaisin Suomeen, maahan, jolla on erityinen paikka sydämessäni.

Heti ensimmäisistä sähköposteista lähtien tiesin, että Annala oli luova sielunkumppanini. Annala on perheyritys, jolla on yli sadan vuoden kokemus tekstiilien valmistuksesta. Heidän uskomaton asiantuntemuksensa ja sitoutumisensa laatuun näkyy jokaisessa lankojen solmussa.

Tämän hedelmällisen yhteistyön tuloksena on syntynyt kolme ainutlaatuista peitettä: Arkadia, Annalan puutarhassa ja Helsinki.

Keväällä Annala esitteli peitteitä arvostetuilla Proposte Fair -messuilla, jotka kokoavat yhteen maailman parhaat kangasvalmistajat. Messupaikka, Villa Erba Como-järven rannalla, saattaa olla tuttu myös Ocean's Twelve -elokuvasta.

Helsinki-villapeitto lanseerattiin vuoden 2025 Habitare-messuilla ja oli osa Naapuri-näyttelyä. Suhteeni Helsinkiin on kudottu tämän peiton ytimeen. Opiskelin Taideteollisessa Korkeakoulussa ja asuin Helsingissä 20 vuotta. Sinä aikana kaupungista tuli kotini. Sen kadut, tunnelma ja muistot ovat inspiroineet minua luomaan jotain ainutlaatuista.

Helsinki-villapeite on lämmin kunnianosoitus kaupungin arkkitehtuurille, Huvilakadun tyylikkäälle ja satumaiselle ilmapiirille, Katajanokan valloittaville jugendtaloille sekä kaupungin tärkeimmälle maamerkille, Tuomiokirkolle ja erityisesti sen vihreälle kupolille, jossa pääsin vierailemaan opiskeluaikoina.

Voin sanoa että intohimoinen suhdeeni Suomeen on kudottu jokaisen peitteen ytimeen, luoden tuotteita, jotka kertovat tarinan historiasta ja luovuudesta modernilla tavalla.

IN ENGLISH

A year ago, I had a clear vision: to create the perfect wool blankets. To bring this vision to life, I needed a partner who shared my passion for quality and craftsmanship.

Call it fate or chance, but the path led me back to Finland, a country that holds a special place in my heart. I lived there during my university years and have maintained a connection with Finland for over 20 years.

From the very first emails, I knew Annala was my creative soulmate. Annala is a family business with over a century of experience in textile manufacturing. Their incredible expertise and commitment to quality are truly evident in every thread.

This fruitful collaboration has resulted in three unique wool blankets: Arkadia, In the Garden, and Helsinki.

Annala presented my blankets at the prestigious Proposte Fair in the spring, which brings together the world's top fabric manufacturers. The fair's venue, Villa Erba by Lake Como, may be familiar from movies like Ocean's Twelve.

The Helsinki wool blanket was launched at the 2025 Habitare fair and was part of the Naapuri exhibition. My relationship with Helsinki is woven into the very core of this blanket. I studied at the University of Art and Design and lived in Helsinki for 20 years. During that time, the city became my home. Its streets, atmosphere, and memories inspired me to create something unique.

The Helsinki blanket is a warm tribute to the city's architecture, the stylish and fairytale-like atmosphere of Huvilakatu, the enchanting Art Nouveau buildings of Katajanokka, and the city's most important landmark, the Helsinki Cathedral, especially its green dome, which I was able to visit during my student years.

My passionate relationship with Finland is woven into the core of each blanket, creating products that tell a story of history and creativity in a modern way.

Looking back and forward

The year 2024 was full of both challenges and new opportunities for me. My father had died suddenly as the year began. It shook me deeply and intensely influenced my work. The feeling of grief and loss is difficult to put into words, but it was necessary to go through these emotions and adapt to the new situation.

Despite the difficulties, I found solace in work and continued to study Estonian wooden architecture. Our unique aesthetic of wooden houses has always attracted me, and in my paintings of recent years, I try to convey it through wooden "lace" details. This project is like a therapeutic journey where I can delve into our cultural heritage and find new meanings there.

In September, I organized a personal exhibition in the Old Town of Tallinn, presenting new works and some older items to the public. The individual exhibition was an important milestone because I could share my creations with a broader audience and receive direct feedback.

It was also an opportunity to reflect on the work done so far and to set new goals. The exhibition was highly successful, and most of my works found a new home. Thank you so much, my dear supporters!

In addition to painting through last year, I realized my long-time dream. For the first time in more than twenty years, I designed textiles again, and at the end of the year, I made 20 exclusive wool blankets. This project is important because I can combine my love for design and craft. Estonian craft heritage is close to my heart, and I would like to create modern textiles that carry this heritage for decades, if not centuries, to come.
The blankets were very well received, and in the new year, there will be exhibitions where you can see my creations in other parts of Europe.

Overall, 2024 was a year of personal growth and creative development for me. 
I am grateful to everyone who supports me on this journey and believes in me!