Art_of_Silvekoski

Grazy Winter Collection

2012-02-04T15:21:00.000-08:00

I have small collection of my works
in the window of Sarjakuvakeskus
(Comics-center), here in Helsinki.
Between 3.-27.2.2012.

Quite enjoyable installation amidst
this cold winter, if I may say...

In Sarjakuvakeskus there's also very
recommendable cafe, so you can
warm up little bit.

In window there are also some unseen works,
for example unpublished one-page comic!

Haahun hupinurkka

2011-11-05T17:07:00.000-07:00

Soon there'll be coming out next NyKyELiÖ!!!
If everything goes right there will be also
my first short-story. I can reveal it is
placed in a fantasy-world, oh yeah!!

For a refreshment for a dark season of soul,
here's example of my previous contributions
for journal in question:

2011-09-29T05:31:00.000-07:00

I don't normally publish photos from
unfinished works, but this one has
already quite a potential:

Also a photo of one Autumn Friend:

Hirvitalo & Flow

2011-08-15T12:01:00.000-07:00

It's been quite August!

First I put up an installation in Hirvitalo,
Tampere, as a part of "Out of Mouths of Babes"-
group exhibition (Other artists are Niina Putkonen,
Paula Ervamaa, Miia Änäkkälä and Jaakko Salama).

My installation, "Grazy Summer Collection",
is there in second floor's backroom. It gather's
around some of my older paper-mache scuptures
but there's also some this summer's work:

Exhibition is open until Sunday 28.8.2011,
address and further information is available
in HIRVITALO's pages.

And last weekend we, VALOVIRHEE were at
Flow-festival, doing our overhead-projections
at Backyard, both on Friday and Saturday:

As if that isn't enough, next
weekend I'll install three new paintings
in Tallinn, Culture-factory Polymer,
among Vadelma ry's group exhibition:

But more news of it later!!

Ruins

2011-04-21T05:46:00.000-07:00

I started to build a fortress against the world.

Day one:

Day two:

Day three:

Day four:

Day five:

Detail:

There seems to be some leaks in my fortress
because I still feel presence of other
human beings...

Jänis Vemmelsäären savotta

2011-04-08T05:55:00.000-07:00

Istuivat Kettu Repolainen ja Jänis Vemmelsääri iltaa suurella
kannolla ja pohtivat lyhyen tähtäimen strategioita. Oltiin pyö-
ritelty asioita juurta jaksaen, pureuduttu kaarnaan, menty yti-
meen, voisi sanoa.
"Luulenpa veliseni että meillä on moraalinen oikeus...", virkkoi
Jänis Vemmelsääri.
"Moraalinen oikeuspa hyvinkin puolellamme, kuomaseni! Oi-
keus ja peräti velvollisuus", jatkoi Kettu Repolainen.
"Mutta älkäämme olko sentään barbaareja vaan kuulkaamme
mitä hänellä on sanottavanaan puolustuksekseen", ehdotti Jänis
Vemmelsääri.
Niin irroitettiin side herra Ihmisen suun edestä ja aikansa ilmaa
keuhkoihinsa haukottuaan ryhtyi hän äänekkäästi parkumaan.
"Voi ystävät hyvät! Armahtakaa minua poloista onnetonta, että
tässä pitikin näin käydä... Auts!"

Puhe loppui lyhyeen kun Jänis Vemmelsääri tarttui hampaillaan
herra Ihmisen vasempaan kivekseen. Hakkuuaukea killitti pahasti
silmään, ainakin jos oli tottunut elelemään metsissä. Metsän lai-
dassa mustunut monitoimikone savusi edelleen ja Susi Hukkanen
temmelsi suolistetun metsätyömiehen jäänteiden parissa.
"Voi säälikää minua kurjaa...", vaikeroi herra Ihminen. "Tehkää
minulle mitä tahansa mutta älkää vain heittäkö minua tuonne
orjantappurapensaikkoon, sitä en kestäisi!" Näin lasketteli herra
Ihminen luullen keksineensä hädissään oivankin suunnitelman.
"Ai että, sinua hupsua herra Ihmistä!", lausui Kettu Repolainen
huuliaan lipoen. "Luulitko todellakin että lankeaisimme tuohon
vanhanaikaiseen temppuun?"

Ja kävi niinkuin arvata saattaa. Herra Ihminen jaoteltiin vanhojen
säädösten mukaan kaikkien metsän eläinten kesken. Pidettiin aimo
kekkerit, mutta maakuntalehdessä tapaus vaiettiin kuoliaaksi.
Sillä onhan niin että metsä vastaa niinkuin sinne huutaa.

Festum stultorum

2011-01-10T18:10:00.000-08:00

"Pappien ja apulaisten voidaan nähdä naamioituneen
virka-aikana hirviömäisiin naamareihin. He tanssivat
kuorissa naisiksi, parittajiksi tai trubaduureiksi
pukeutuneina. He syövät mustaa vanukasta alttarilla
muiden juhlijoiden messutessa ja heittävät siellä
noppaa. He suitsuttavat savulla, jota he saavat
vanhoista kengänpohjista. He juoksevat ja hyppivät
ympäri kirkkoa ilman minkäänlaista häpeän tunnetta.
Lopuksi he ajavat kaupungille, ja sen teattereihin
heiveröisissä kärryissä tai häkeissä ja naurattavat
ystäviään ja katselijoita säädyttömillä esityksillä,
sopimattomilla eleillä ja rääväsuisilla ja epäsiveel-
lisillä runonsäikeillä."

-Chambers, E.K.:The Medieval Stage. London 1903
(käännös kirjassa "Hulluuden puolustus ja muita
kirjoituksia naurun historiasta", Olli Alho 1988)

Aura-lehdessä 28.10.1888

2010-11-24T07:03:00.000-08:00

"Tavallisessa piipussa poltteli hän intialaisen hampun
(cannabis indica) kukkia ja pitkitti polttamistaan sittenkin,
waikka sauhu maistui sangen katkeralta, kunnes hän tunsi
ääretöntä hywinwointia. Silloin hän laski pois piipun.
Muutaman minuutin kuluttua tunsi hän itsensä ikäänkuin
monistuneeksi. Hän tiesi nimittäin todellisen tilansa,
että hän makasi pitkänään majassa, kello 10 illalla,
hän tiesi että hän oli polttanut hashishia. Hänen toinen
minänsä oleskeli suurenlaisessa rakennuksessa, joka oli
rakennettu kullasta ynnä jalokiwistä ja walaistu kirkkaalla,
mutta miedolla walolla; tuo kaikki oli niin suloista, ettei
kuwituswoima woi sitä käsittää. Hän oli äärettömän iloinen
ja luuli olevansa taiwaassa. Kaksinaisena oleminen häwisi
yhtäkkiä, mutta palasi heti muutaman minuutin periistä.
Hänen todellinen ihmisensä joutui kauttaaltaansa suonenwedon
waltaan, jonka hän hawaitsi helpottaman ja taas uudistuman
samassa tahdissa kuin hänen akkunansa alla rääkättäwäin hanhien
kirkuna. Hänen toinen minänsä oli kuin joku ilmesoitin, josta
helähteli mitä suloisimmat säwelet. Sitten saawutti hänet uni
ja kaikki loppui.

Toinen koe, jonka hän teki kuusi wiikkoa myöhemmin poltellen
kahdesti niin suuren määrän kuin ensimmäisellä kertaa, ja jolloin
hän lyijykynä kädessä istui kirjoituspöytänsä ääressä, merkitäkseen
mieliwaikutteensa paperille, päättyi siten, että hän kadotti
käsityksen ajasta. Hän nousi esim. seisoalleen sulkeaksensa owea,
jolloin hänen mielestään tähän toimitukseen kului miljoonia wuosia;
tahi meni hän hillitsemään kiukkuista koiraa, johonka hän palatessaan
takaisin, luuli tarwinneensa lukemattoman joukon pitkiä ajanjaksoja.
Mutta yhtäkaikki oli awaruus pitänyt ulottuwaisuutensa. Hän tunsi
päässään ajatusten syntymän myrskyn tapaisella nopeudella, tuntien
esiin niin suuressa määrin, että hän niitä merkitäkseen luuli
tarwitsewansa äärettömän joukon kirjoja. Itsensä luuli hän
ei yhdeksi eikä kahdeksi henkilöksi waan yhtä aikaa moneksi eri
paikoissa eläwiksi yksilöiksi, joilla kullakin oli erillainen
toimitus. Hän ei kyennyt merkitsemään ainoatakaan ajatusta, sillä
sen työnsiwät heti uudet ajatukset pois tieltään.
Semmoinen on hashish.

(Ote kirjasta "Unileipää, kuolonvettä, spiidiä - huumeet
Suomessa 1800-1950", Mikko Ylikangas)

Scifi-Ways

2010-09-06T06:58:00.001-07:00

New Suohumala-CD out!!

With 15 new tracks it
gives totally good trip
around the orbit and
sometimes a little farther...

3 songs are to listen in
Suohumala-myspace!!

And there is also new
Suohumala-livevideo from
Molotov (Helsinki),
where you can almost see
my featuring keyboardist,
Herra Mäkikuisma.

Enjoy!!
(ps.exhibition still in
Porvoonkadun Baari, until 30.9.)

Exhibition

2010-08-04T13:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I installed 12 paintings
on the wall of Porvoonkadun Baari.
3 of them are totally new and
3 are unseen in Helsinki.

All paintings are on sale.

Exhibition is there for two months,
3.8.-30.9.2010.
wed-sat 12-02
sun-tue 12-24
Porvoonkatu 19, 00510 Helsinki, Finland

"Planktonin valtakunta" (Realm of Plankton)
acrylic, 2010

...also new Suohumala cd is
in good progress, title will be
"Scifi-Ways".

Fullmoon Pegasus

2010-07-09T10:12:00.000-07:00

Fullmoon Pegasus, acrylic painting, 81*100 cm, 2010

This painting is at Rantakasarmi, Suomenlinna,
Helsinki, as part of "Mennään metsään"-exhibition,
3.7.-8.8.2010.

Check out also my new Suohumala-video,
for "Kilpikonnarock"-tune!!

Kesäpäivä Auringossa

2010-06-27T10:06:00.000-07:00

Acrylic painting, 65*41 cm, 2010
(recently went to Taidelainaamo)

Green is THE colour

2010-05-29T04:18:00.001-07:00

I found interesting article from BBC-news, it dealt with creativity
and its similarities with mental illnesses.

Short quotation:

"Creativity is uncomfortable. It is their dissatisfaction with the present
that drives them on to make changes.

"Creative people, like those with psychotic illnesses, tend to see the world
differently to most. It's like looking at a shattered mirror.
They see the world in a fractured way. "

I guess they are waiting passionitely for some medication
for my thalamus in finnish unemployment office.
...and for everyone's thalamus as well!

Years I have had feeling that art and creativity
really don't belong to finnish "mind-setting".
They are worth only when you are able to productize
your "stuff".

Which is almost impossible if you are looking
like this:

Anyway there is a Suohumala-gig
in Tampere 5.6.2010 in the opening
of doll-exhibition in Hirvitalo.
More information HERE

In Tampere I also have featuring
keyboardist, Lauri Mäkikuisma:

Der Springen

2010-04-11T14:46:00.001-07:00

I just uploaded 2 videos from
my last Suohumala-gig which was
in Comicstore-Pitkämies, Helsinki,
18.3.2010 during the release-"party"
of Jarno Latva-Nikkola's collected
comic-works...

VALTAMERTEN IHMEET

WALLE-WAA

I'm also little by little
updating my webpages,
adding lots of drawings
(including "erotic"!!) etc...

(still) Worth of checkin out:

SILVEKOSKI.COM

Also our light-show-group
Valovirhee is starting its
season at JAZZCOREWORKSHOP/
VADELMAKLUBI 16.4.2010 at
Harjun nuorisotalo, Helsinki.
Jean Louis (fr) and
Freecity Mulkvists
performing 18.00-22.00.
Free entry!

Fat Days-comicstrips

2010-02-04T08:12:00.000-08:00

Here's four first pictures from cartoon which
I intended to publish as inside-supplement
for my Suohumala's FAT DAYS-cd.

Story kind of paused after these four drawings,
but it might continue this spring...

Sorry, no translation to english so far.

Here's also one slide-video I did recently from
my Pere Demu-series paintings and sculptures,
music is from that FAT DAYS-cd:

..as for the Valovirhee's lights-shows, here are some
links to videos from Vadelma's Kulttuuritalo-gig:

WASAMI

UZVA

Kehvelit

2009-11-21T14:47:00.000-08:00

20.11.-1.12.2009 my installation,
"Kehvelit" is at VemDent-dentist's
shop-window in Helsinginkatu 9, Helsinki.
It is part of Kallio Kipinöi-festival.

Installation consists of 12 colourfull
skulls with central head, Nebukadnessar.
All are paper-mache, painted with acrylic
colours.

I also strongly recommend Olli Hopia's
exhibition at Malmitalo-gallery,
Malmi, Helsinki 19.11.-12.12.2009,
Olli has there drawings and very charismatic
wood-sculptures:

Another one to recommend is
Mikko Torvisen's web-comic,
Kyberpunktoimisto

Have fun with good old cyberpunk!

Also Vadelma ry. has big happening
at Kulttuuritalo, Helsinki, Sat. 28.11.09,
with lots of bands and VJ's (also our
Valovirhee-group), all this only 6 euros!!

Fullmoon

2009-11-02T16:24:00.000-08:00

I had a Suohumala-gig week ago and
that went pretty fine, although
I shouldn't have drank previous night.
Anyway, I had quite many own songs,
and there is more coming... people
seemed to like them.

By the way, here is two photos
of one rock-drawing from the end of summer,
that was a quite big one:

In the end of November I'll have
12 colorful-skulls in shop window
in Helsinginkatu as part of
Kallio Kipinöi-festival...

more information coming soon!!

Here's also some pictures from
last summers adventures:

(This one's from Irrisistable District-
festival from Suvilahti where our
lightshow-group Valovirhee performed
two exhausting but fun nights)

But who in hell is this???:

Summertime

2009-08-14T05:55:00.000-07:00

Summertime and the living is EASY!!

I visited lovely Turku, where surrealism
has never ceased to exist:

Actually I was there to experience
ILMIÖ-festival which really was nice
event in beautiful old dance-place...

One of my favourite acts happened
in smaller stages, here Bugari Ormond
plays and tells tales. Unforgettable:

There was also Kokomys, showing their
electric equipment which was set up to
be tested by audience:

Also in the midnight Nightsatan did
their best with Lasermetal:

Despite of the hangovers I managed
to exhibit some of my Pere Demu-series
of paintings in Faces-festival's group
exhibition next week:

I think best music was provided by
Rol Junell's Hawaiian Novelty Orchestra,
despite of the rain:

...what lovely easy-chair-tunes!!!
They take you flying on a dream-balloon:

...and you come back to ground with
strange results:

"Taisivat tarjota työtäkin kerran,
tuumin asiaa hetkisen verran,
esitin kohteliaan kieltäymyksen"
(from new Suohumala-song...)

Hard Day at the Zoo

2009-07-05T17:25:00.000-07:00

One of my older paintings, Hard Day at the Zoo,
is in Suomenlinna, Rantakasarmi in Helsinki Artist's
Association's summer-exhibition "ELÄIMELLISTÄ"
(Until 2.8.09)

One of the creatures below is Olli Hopia's sculpture
in Kivinokka-Environmental-Art-Exhibition:

Fat Days & Other Ways

2009-06-12T17:07:00.000-07:00

Just released new Suohumala-CD,
called "FAT DAYS". It has same flow
as previous "VIRITIN", but maybe
with a little better tuning...

Cover, of course, is a painting of mine,
very old one, although finalized just
for this occasion. Sometimes the painting
was called "Loksunokan löysät päivät",
which lazyly might translate to something like
"Fat Days".

I didn't have time to paint fork
to the creatures hand which would have been
holding a piece of its stomache. That would
have been quite conceptual aproach...

Here is also some drawings which were
sketches for a giant paper-mache-sculptures
for Musiikkitalon taidekilpailu, in Helsinki
(Art competition for a Concert Hall of Helsinki):

Here is close-up of one of the characters:

Of course I didn't get to "second stage"
with these works, although press-release
said that chosen works had some quality of
humour in them. This is clip was secretly
taken from meeting of art-"jury"...

Good humour here in FINLAND!

Finally here are some interesting pictures
from VADELMAFEST 09:

...And I have participated also
to light-show-group called VALOVIRHEE
That is PURE FUN!!!

Spring

2009-04-24T16:28:00.000-07:00

Today I was totally elevated by nature in
Uutela (vuosaari, Helsinki), found some
coals from fireplace nearby the sea and
did once again some ROCK-drawings:

This was quite big drawing, if I claim its height to be
around 4 meters, it might be close.
These things are really difficult to photograph.
I guess drawing might be there for couple of days,
it doesn't seem to start raining...

Actually I have been quite a lot outdoors
recently... nothing wrong with that!

No sign of depression here!

Here's also my newest painting,
picture is not good, but nature's
influence is undeniable:

Nyky-Eliö

2009-03-29T13:08:00.000-07:00

Haven't posted anything for a while
which doesn't mean that nothing is happening.
Quite contrary:

Here is cover of our new magazine
called Nyky-Eliö (translates "Modern Creature"):

It is self-published, black and white and
concentrates mainly in writings...
No comics here!

There was only 70 prints, so if you have
one, you truly have a valuable gem in possession!!
Next magazine should be out in summer...

Meanwhile Vadelma-organization has
happening here in Helsinki:

Event is Vadelma ry's exhibition in
gallery Maa-tila in Albertinkatu 19.
5.-26.4.
Also there is lots of other program:
performances, panel-discussions and musical
happenings... check the program by clicking
Vadelma-link!!

Some of my artworks (maybe something
new also) will be there!

Go and visit!!
Open tue-sun 13-19‭ pm.

Kiasma vs. Palestine

2009-01-08T13:53:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I was going to Kiasma (museum of contemporary
art here in Helsinki) and somehow wound up marching
among middle-eastern demonstrators against Israel
genocide in Gaza.

I left ranks when some group started to shout
JIHAD, although I know there are many kinds of jihads.
Entrance to Kiasma was free on that particular day.
(Every months' first wednesday 17.00 ->)

I should have stayed in the demonstration.
Current exhibition of contemporary art was totally
BORING!! Some asshole finance-guy had bought these
things during 80's (I guess he cheated money from
crippled old people) and now they have ended to the
collections of museum.

There was lot of "art-talk" written on the walls.
Maybe they should have put there also some texts
from Hakim Bey's T.A.Z.
(well, there is a mention of aesthetic jihad :)

.

Snow

2008-11-26T14:27:00.000-08:00

At last some snow here in Helsinki,
this guy lived only one night.
But what great time he had in my balcony!

One below is from Vadelma ry's openings
at Om'pu-bar, 3.11.08:

This is Helsinki's new music-house,
they chose the cheapest offer:

Year Full of Art

2008-11-13T04:48:00.000-08:00

This year I have participated in 5 exhibitions
(one of them being my first exhibition in abroad)
and also I published my first public paintings in
Kontula-Health-Care-Center.

I did 7 Suohumala-gigs and put out new Suohumala-CD.
And I did one DJ-gig and tried once Video-Jockeys job.

Hmm... was that all? Maybe.

I really should organize my plans, but somehow
"planning" feels very unsatisfying. DOING things,
however chaotic that may be, is much more compelling!!

I have a really good idea for a solo-exibition,
also I have enough song-structures for 2-3 CD's.
And once in a month I have to visit in unemployment
office, every time fearing that they cut-off my
benefits...

Nobody buys my art and I have no place in "art world".

So what the hell am I doing??
Answer: HAVING FUN!!

If somebody would offer me a job where I could
get 3000 euros/month by sitting in front of the computer
10 hours a day I most likely refused the offer.

It is much more satisfying creating your own stuff
than to be somebody else's slave, even if that means
that I have to struggle with 300-400 euros/month.

And besides I don't have any loans, cars or children,
I haven't bought any of that stuff they try to sell
us so that they could imprison us with responsibilities.

Ok, I have my troubles and I can't say I AM FREE
because creativity in itself is pretty obsessive,
but all in all I'm quite happy with the road
I have chosen...

By the way, these paintings here
(from Funny Ancestor series) are hanging
on the walls of Om'pu-bar in
Siltasaarenkatu 15, Helsinki
until 30.11.2008
(That's VADELMA ry's exhibition there)

Pieksämäki Triennale

2008-10-28T14:19:00.000-07:00

I participated in Pieksämäki Young
Artists 2nd Triennale which takes place
2.10-2.11.2008 in the middle of Finland.
That is in "savo" and place is culture-
center Poleeni:

I experienced jet-lag first time in
my life since all other artists woke
up so early to install their work.

So by measuring time-difference I
could have visited New York...

I spent my first 18 years in Pieksämäki
and trip was great for me since I hadn't visited
there for 10 years...

Above rules Jari Asikainen who organized
this exhibition. He was also in charge of
ordering food to the openings:

...and he also invited Sir mr Taf
to perform on the occasion:

(Behind you can see another one of my new
paintings which were finished just for
this exhibition... I'll put pictures of
them soon to my webpages!)

They also had some cover of the
exhibition in Savon Sanomat and
Länsi Savo.

Newspapers didn't mention dogs:

Viritin

2008-09-09T16:11:00.000-07:00

New Suohumala -cd will be called "Viritin".
It is almost ready, holding 12 tracks,
even album-covers are ready.

So if you see me at Helsinki-Comix-festival 13.-14.9,
don't be afraid to buy one, it is defenitely worth of
buying and listening.

Actually, I realized that now I can put some
taste tracks to Suohumala's myspace-site.
Check them out!

And there shall be three different colour-versions
of cd's cover...

Tuner

2008-08-16T10:31:00.000-07:00

I'm doing a new cd, it's going to be called
"Viritin" or "Tuner", I'm not yet sure which.
If everything works out fine I'll be selling it
in Comix Festival, Helsinki, 12.-13.9.2008.

I'll put to Suohumala's MYSPACE-site few taste-tracks soon!

I'm very satisfied with this new record,
it has many groovy dance-tracks as well as
all kinds of strange atmospheres. All in all
it could be described as POP-ROCK-ELECTRO-SOUL...
...hmmm.. or could it? Well you have to buy
and judge yourself, I have a feeling that "Viritin" will
be very remarkable step in my music career!!

And it is also a very good soundtrack to my paintings.
As allways.

I also finally bought SCANNER!
So in this autumn I there will be
lots of new drawings in my website.
I have quite many old sketchbooks, full
of excellent material...

And next exhibition will be 1.10-2.11.2008
in Pieksämäki, (in savo) in a group-exhibition called
"Säkkipimeä". I haven't been to Pieksämäki
(town where I grew up) for ten years so it is
going to be a little bit like a TwinPeaks-trip
for me..

Russian Video-Clip

2008-07-31T12:59:00.000-07:00

I just got address to news-clip
from "First Baltic Bienniale".
You'll find it HERE!

Me and my paintings flash
on the end-bit of the clip.

Russia

2008-07-26T15:50:00.000-07:00

First Baltic Bienniale came and went.
It was held 5.-15.7. in St.Petersburg, Russia,
in big old soviet-style "Central
Governmental Exhibition Hall", called
Manege. It is located right next to
Isaac's Church, in the center of Petersburg.

(Manege is that building on the left, picture taken
from the roof of Isaac's Church).

I showed there eight paintings, two of
them being brand new ones (Travel of
the Innocents, 1&2). Customs went
very smoothly, might be because one of the
organizers of the exhibition was director of
Hermitage.

My russia isn't so good, I know only alphabets
and some words but I had feeling that people
really liked my paintings. People spend time
watching them and photographed them quite a lot.

There is also interesting video-clip from openings
in my youtube-site.

They had also printed really beautiful
catalogue about exhibition. And one day
I was interviewed for Russian tv (Telekanal).
Me and my paintings appeared few seconds
in the news, sadly I don't have yet that news-clip.

Above you can see photo-art of my host,
Sami Hyrskylahti
and below is picture of another finnish
artists', Paula Salmela's performance.
She really did hang in Manege every day,
under that strange hum of air ventilation
machines:

This was my fifth trip to St.Petersburg
and city has developed fast. My first
impression was that on Nevski Prospekt
(main street) you hardly noticed being in
Russia.

However land-slavery still seem to exist:

Even traffic seemed much safer
and more reasonable than before.
I guess people don't want to wreck
their new fine cars:

And there was feeling of safety
also, although I had to be aware of
militia, cause I hadn't registered
my visa:

Drinking tea (especially Pu-ehr) is
one of the main things to spend your
time:

And from cafe's terrace on Nevski you have
good place to study inhabitants of St.Petersburg:

There was also much nightclubbing to be done.
Sami was indeed correct guide to the scene:

However I didn't drink so much.
From the past experiences I know
that hangovers in Russia are not
so nice. And my accommodations being
what it was I really didn't need any
extra excitement:

Days and nights had little difference...

Of course there was 5 million people in
St.Petersburg plus tourists so somedays
I just had to get away from the city.
One day I went to Peterhof, to relax in
tzar's gardens.

There was also some kind of "largest
fountains in the world" or something
which gathered lots of tourists:

On last day I managed finally to visit
Hermitage which was full of tourists.

Anyway I had in Hermitage really deep
art-experience and it is really sad that
battery of my camera went out there...

All in all, it was a work trip
and I was happy to return Finland,
back to my basic stupid life:

At last I have a month and a half VACATION
before I have to start to struggle with
that unemployment-office's career-changing
course... but that is another story!

Baltic Biennial

2008-06-30T02:53:00.000-07:00

If gods are fortunate on me I will
participate on "Baltic Biennial of
Contemporary Art" in St. Petersburg.
That is my first exhibition abroad.
Exhibition takes place in
"Manege Central Exhibition Hall"
(St. Isaac’s Square 1),
in the very center of the St.Petersburg
5.-15.7.

I guess I will stay there whole
time so it'll be also vacation.
Reports and photos of the journey will
be posted here (afterwards?)

Here are two new paintings
(Travel of Innocents 1&2)
that will be exhibited there
among other "Pere Demu" paintings:

I have done also lots of Suohumala-recordings
recently. There's a good stuff coming!
My plans are to make new CD for the time
of Helsinki Comics-festival on 12.-14.9.2008!!

And last week I got this letter
from Unemployment office which stated
that I have to apply for their course
called "New Direction" (uusi suunta).
They used to put people to similar courses
in Cambodia and China, I guess they have
now recognized here in Finland that old
tricks are better than new ones!

Well well, it seems that artistic
behavior and creativity is considered
dangerous in our consumer-based society...

Merry Christmas!

2008-06-18T04:28:00.000-07:00

Following series of photographs is from Aitoo.
4.6. there was photograph-exhibition opening
in my friends', Teuvo and Helkas gallery...

As a result of accident, we had to amputate
poor photographers both legs with pocketknives...

Last weekend I was performing in Factory
with Kytät and Backwoods Powerhouse.
That was my last gig for a while,
I have to seriously re-think the idea
of artist-beers:

Kytät:

Also last weekend I finally visited Kivinokka (Herttoniemi,
Helsinki) where they had organized a sculpture-exhibition
outside the Maija's cafe. There was also music performances
of Vuohi ja Poliisi, Dark President and Harppuuna. And
also reasonable amount of rain:

a sculpture by Maria Hopia:

a sculpture by Leena Pukki:

a sculpture by Olli Hopia:

another sculpture by Olli Hopia:

Art in Kontula

2008-06-01T17:21:00.000-07:00

Here's a few pictures about my paintings
fitting in walls of Kontula-Health-Care-Center:

Yksinhuoltaja

Avaruussonaatti

Helsingin henkimaailma (he-he...)

Vappu

2008-05-05T14:51:00.000-07:00

In Finland we have this drinking-festival
called VAPPU. So if you're coming Finland during
Vappu (1st of May), the best way to participate is get
pissed, take off your clothes and have time
of your life:

Next day (hangover) was spent in a different mileu:

(pretty strong defense for this
Timo Jaakola's painting...)

On a third day of "vappu" I went to Tampere
to perform a Suohumala-gig in ending of
Musta Valo-exhibition:

Quite spectacular stage!!

Relaxin' after first solo-gig

Jussi Löf and Samuli Kivinummi have done
greatest blacklight-paintings I've ever seen!

On next day we did some fine arts before
it was time to go back to Helsinki...

...and perform as a support for James Reipas.
I have also video clip of my
Suohumala-tripaduuri-show.

James Reipas had one of their best gigs!!

But Vappu is happily-luckily over now and it is
time to sulk and frown rest year.
In Finland we believe that Russia
will invade us if we smile too much!!

Crete

2008-04-28T00:57:00.001-07:00

Sunset in Iraklion...

View from my hotel in Iraklion. Actually I also saw
sea from balcony but this was also kind of refreshing
view because this next building was a squat!!

Port of Iraklion. Locals said that Iraklio is a city that has turned
its back to sea.

...as you can see!! No beaches here. But for a finnlander who hasn't
travelled much this was quite exotic anyhow.

I met also some local students. Thanks for Raki and GOOD company,
Jim, Bembo, Panos, Toni, Marlena, Stelios and rest!! I most certainly
will be back at Crete!

Oh yes!! (I didn't do this!!)

I guess these were death-notices they put in lamp-posts.
I wonder what killed this guy...

There were lots of cretans in Iraklion since it
was eastern. But very few tourists. And in this
one week only finnish people I saw were in aeroplane.
Great succeeeesss!!!

On second day I went to Knossos. Somehow present
was (and IS) much more interesting than past. I can visit
Archeological museum next time. But it was interesting
to find out that archeologists and historians really don't
know so much about minoan culture. So I can "invent" all
ancient mysteries I need!!

Soon I left Iraklion for Plakias. This was
from Rethymno where I changed bus. Too much
tourist hassle there for me!!

Bus trip to Plakias was really green.
I put a very peaceful video of this to youtube:

Going Up Plakias Yes Yes

I got of the bus and found paradise!

Plakias Youth Hostel.

Going to One Rock Beach..

I was only seven days at Crete but somehow
I found my second home there. Especially in Plakias.
So I have to organize my life so I can get there
on springs and autumns. So different mentality than
here in Finland...

In past women used to pour Raki for men in these troughs...

On a way to mountains...
And there were quite many of them!!

Looking towards Africa...

...and finally back to stressfull urban
city-life here in Helsinki, Finland.
(Damn, I really should have stayed longer in Plakias!!)

Taidelainaamo

2008-04-13T13:10:00.001-07:00

Vein kaksi täplä-maalaustani Rikhardinkadun
taidelainaamoon (Helsinkiin). Saa nähdä käykö kala
koukkuun.

Katsoin Adam Curtiksen neliosaisen dokumentin
"Century of the Self" joka on konsumerismin historiikki.
Kuinka markkinamiehet ottivat käyttöön Freudin
analyysin ja kuinka politiikot ottivat samat käytännöt
mukaan leikkiinsä. Massoja hallitaan täyttämällä
niiden oraaliset ja anaaliset mielihalut.

Liian rankkaa matskua suomen televisioon. Täällähän
on vasta päästy mälläämään yksilöllisellä kuluttamisella.
Voi dokata siideriä, kaljaa tai fisushotteja. Valinta tekee
minusta persoonan. Krapulaisen persoonan.

"Pindia", akryyli, 30*40 cm, 2005

"Nexico", akryyli, 50*40 cm, 2005

Blacklight

2008-03-30T14:37:00.001-07:00

I bought some fluorescent paints and spent
few moments under the blacklight:

This is 72*32 cm and has only blue colour yet...

Mutant?

2008-03-24T18:42:00.000-07:00

I was at cabin last week
and found strange tracks...

I guess climate change has its course...

Mustache

2008-03-12T15:41:00.000-07:00

Time to relax!!

As you can see the masks and paintings are hanging
on the walls of Valssaamo at Kaapelitehdas,
Helsinki. Last week was total art-week,
lots of openings and happenings, beautiful
stuff. Especially Mamuska-thing at Zodiak
had a really lovely atmosphere.

Tomorrow I'm heading for the cabin. If the road
is not too muddy. Weather is not very good but
who cares when you have good old fireplace,
wood-heated sauna and pen and paper.

How delightful to draw something without
caring the results! Just to let imagination
wander freely... and sleep! Oh, Dreams!

On 25th and 26th of March I'll be
watching our exhibition.
Come and buy all my paintings!!

"Fisumiehen frendi 2", akryyli, 61*50 cm, 2008

Temppeli Vuorilla

2008-02-27T13:51:00.000-08:00

I added one new song to SUOHUMALA's pages

Actually I should be sending invitations for Behind the Moustaches
-exhibition but since doctor'll pull my wisdom tooth away tomorrow,
I have spent a recreational day. Not thinking paintings or dentist!

Which means doing the music. And I remembered my
"Bachuksen juonet"-project which is going to be really something!
"Bachuksen juonet" will be themathical horror/fantasy-album for
children!! I had nearly forgotten those recordings and when
I listened some of them, they sounded great!

But there is a LOT to be done with this record so I can't say
whether it'll be ready 2008 or 2009... or 2010.
I'm eagerly waiting to be able to get out of this town,
to go to cabin and walk in forests and write the story for
this psychedelic-horror-opera. Making music is fun and easy
but writing requires really hard thinking.

Record will be completely solo-album, only some
drum-samples will be used!

God

2008-01-24T15:36:00.000-08:00

Just found out interesting achievement
from my illustration-career:

www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/God

Luckily I didn't
name the painting "Allah"....

HUHU

2008-01-11T02:36:00.000-08:00

Kuulinpa eilen herkullisen taidehuhun.
Tuttavani oli ennen joulua työväenopiston maalauskurssin kanssa
galleriakierroksella Helsingissä. Opettaja esitteli teoksia galleria
Anhavassa mistä yllättäen koko porukka "heitettiin pihalle" ilman
sen kummempaa syytä. No, seuraava kohde oli galleria Forsblom
ja opettaja jatkoi teosten esittelyä. Hiljaisemmalla äänellä.
Ei auttanut, jälleen galleristi ajoi seurueen ulos. Hämmentävää.
Portaikossa vastaan saapasteli Percy Miihkael Lilliuus, optiomiljonääri
vailla vertaa ja kysyi seurueelta että sijaitseeko galleria Forsblom
yläkerrassa.

Eli taiteilijakollegani: nöyristelkää ja rukoilkaa! Iso Raha on kierrossa!!
Sähkönhinnan korottamisella varastetut eurot saattavat päätyä
teille hetkellä minä hyvänsä...

Mutta älkää menkö sen tielle, älkää häiritkö sitä.
Taide ei kuulu kaikille.

Things Are Happening

2007-12-25T11:35:00.000-08:00

Haven't written anything for a while. I've been mainly doing relief-sculptures and paintings for Kontula Health Care Center. Deadline of the work will be 24.1.2008 and everything seems to be ready on time.

Anyway, there is still some important steps to be done, e.g. I have to cover the paper-mache with plaster-like white stuff. When all is ready I'll put a section of pictures of this Kontula-Art to my webpages. One of the paintings seems to be one of the best I've ever done!!

And after that deadline there will be shortly afterward SUOHUMALA's (my band) first gig in Liberte, Helsinki 8.2.2008. And that is really another battle... many challenges ahead, including our newest band-member, Loro Kiero, who defenitely is worth of his name!

And in somewhere around February or March there is big group-exhibition in Cable-Factory in Helsinki. Exhibition is called "Behind the Moustaches" and for my part there will be only new, unseen paintings and sculptures. Most of which are almost ready, but they still need the final brushstrokes.

So no chance of laying back and getting depressed this winter. I really have to be extra careful not to get stress or burnout or drink-too-much!

Imaginary Arkham

2007-10-31T12:57:00.001-07:00

Today I visited Tammisaari which seems to
be truly cthulhunesque-city... I bet something
unspeakable evil lurks there...

more paintings to Kontula

2007-09-27T03:50:00.000-07:00

I've had a stubborn flu whole month.
And before that I had a stomach flu
which was really HELL.

But here are some pictures of my
recent paintings to Kontula Health Care
Center. They are not quite finished,
little details are still coming.
And names might be evolving...

"Pilvipuu" (acrylic, 81*116 cm)

"Olet mitä näet" (You are what you see) acrylic 130*100 cm

Detail of "olet mitä näet"

Rock Drawings

2007-08-20T04:39:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I cured my hangover by going to Pihlajasaari,
very beautiful island in front of Helsinki. I found some coals
and did some drawings on a rock. I don't think that the results
were much, but the idea and actual drawing on stone was
very healing...

There wasn't actually so much coals to be found and
searching was part of the fun.

I noticed that taking pictures was pretty
difficult since stones themshelves have so
much lines...

2007-08-06T15:46:00.000-07:00

Heräsin viime yönä keittiöstä kantautuviin outoihin ääniin.
Nousin ylös ja menin katsomaan mitä siellä oikein tapahtuu.
Meininki oli tällaista:

Jostain alkoi kuulua rahiseva ääni joka lausui:

Imuroida lautasellisia kuollutta ihoa,
tiedän kyllä ketkä sitä syövät,
kuivaa aavikkoa, pölyisää möhnää,
toukat kaivautuvat koloistaan, ajattelevat:

"on meidän vuoromme,
oi mähnän valtakunta, suolojen hovi!
Vapaita aikoja kostealla kaakelilla,
itiöt levittyvät huomenna"

Aava preeria on vain taru,
hupsun mystikon erehdys,
tulkitsi väärin hieroglyfit,
kiireessä.

Vanhan intiaanin päänahkaa,
ritilöiden välissä (kihtini on poissa!)

Härmä ryömii kaikille pinnoille,
paremmin löyhkä hampaiden välistä,
sitä keltaista juttua, kunnon solukosta kannattaa maksaa
Anna meidän koteloitua, nauttia mustista läikistä!!

Vapisin hetken oudon näyn edessä, palasin
hitaasti sänkyyni, kääriydyin peittoni alle ja
lupasin ostaa seuraavana päivänä pölypusseja
imuriini.

Kontula

2007-08-04T03:17:00.000-07:00

I got feedback from my job. I'm doing paintings for
Kontula Health Care Center and I sent there pictures of two
paintings. Feedback was "oikein mukavia" which translates
something as "really enjoyable" (at least in my mind...)

Here is picture of the first painting:

"Root Canal Therapy (Juurihoitoa)", acrylic, 116*81 cm

Actually I'm trying to make next paintings more peacefull,
this first one just got its own way...

Paintings will be there January 2008 and if everything
works out fine some of them will be seen autumn 2007
at Vallila Health Care Center...

Water water

2007-07-22T16:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was at the most beautiful place I've found here in Helsinki.
It's very far from city centre and I'm really not going to reveal exact
location (the place is sacred...) It's near Vuosaari.

Sharp stone-cliffs descended smoothly into sea, sun was shining
and in front of me sea opened without a smallest glimpse of this
big city. Very powerful, dreamlike place. Place where land ends!!
Place where vikings had their talks with Odin. Place where I enjoyed
my chinese-beer!! You could almost here those baroque sounds
evolving from waves...

Luckily I had my new camera with me, as you can see:

And luckily I had my sun protection also!!