Masters of Arts Festival draws record crowd of friends of youthful visual culture to Arabianranta
May 30th 2006
The three-week Masters of Arts Festival has ended. The festival that has
grown from the University of Design and Art Helsinki's degree show into
an urban culture event of youthful culture drew a record-breaking 12 000
visitors to the festival's exhibition, seminars and other events.
The Masters of Arts Festival is built on extensive collaborations. The
success of this year's festival is the work of over 300 individuals.
The festival's main partners were the weekly supplement of Helsingin
Sanomat; Nyt, Arabianrannan Portaali Business Park and Helsinki Virtual
Village. Other collaborators include Nelonen, Art-Print, Askon Säätiö, Back Office Services, Belik, Elcoteq, HKL, Clear Channel, Iittala, Kauppakeskus Arabia, Kronenbourg Blanc, Marimekko, PaperNet, Sato and Yrkeshögskolan Sydväst.
Participating in the organisation of the festival's diverse events were also the other educational facilities in Arabianranta: Arcada Polytechnic, Helsinki Polytechnic Stadia and the Pop & Jazz Conservatory.
The Masters of Arts Festival would like to thank everyone who took part in this year's festival!
Next year the Masters of Arts Festival will be held between May 9th and 27th, 2007 - the Estonian Academy of Arts has been asked to join as well. join as well.
Masters on the Road presents selected pieces from MoA exhibition
May 29th 2006
A number of the works featured in the Masters of Arts Festival's
exhibition will also appear in the Masters on the Road exhibitions.
Chosen for the autumnal Helsinki Design Week were Tero Jakku's mountain
bike, Jokko Korhonen's workgroup platform for the exploration of product
innovation opportunities, Nicolas von Flittner's BoxerCat aluminum boat
and Karoliina Talvitie-Lamberg's Tele confession.
The Norsu-Gallery has invited 12 masters of arts to an exhibition in
August. Tuomas Ervamaa, Kaisa Vuorinen, Kitta Perttula, Eeva Andersson,
Klaus Aalto, Maja Gecic, Krista Kosonen, Sasha Huber, Sonja Salomäki, Naoto Niidome, Yuka Takahashi ja Michihito Mizutani will be participating.
Seven diploma works will occupy Sato's premises in June: Suvi Niskakangas's Blanket installation, Mikko Paakkanen's Vino sofa, Anu Saari's Thought textile collection, Yuka Takahashi's set of tableware and a dining table that integrate Finnish and Japanese cultures, Klaus Aalto's table that folds into a painting and Naoto Niidome's Kleopatra research on upholstery in addition to the Driven by Love and Fury book that features the image editing of Marco Melander.
The works of Sonja Salomäki, Susanna Iivanainen, Petra Juva and Tuomas Tiitinen are on view in Arabian Kauppakeskus between June 1st and 14th.ne 1st and 14th.
Kaisa Vuorinen's jewellery collection Images of Humans receives scholarship
May 22nd 2006
The Finnish Goldsmith Association has granted a scholarship to Kaisa Vuorinen - a participant in the Masters of Arts Festival exhibition - for a display of expertise in goldsmithery. The statement notes that Vuorinen's diploma work Images of Humans has successfully utilised old Japanese mogume-gane layered metal technique by depicting the stratification and competitiveness of modern society.
The pioneer of architecture, curator and filmmaker Jeffrey Kipnis in Finland for the first time!
May 17th 2006
The last seminar in the MOA seminar series, Mood and Atmosphere in Architecture on May 23rd focuses on the power of architecture to create moods and experiences. The subject has drawn major figures of the field to Finland: the seminar’s keynote speakers are the greatly influential Ohio State University professor Jeffrey Kipnis and Preston Scott Cohen from Harvard University. The founder of successful Xefirotarch Hernan Diaz Alonso and Finns Samuli Woolson and Kivi Sotamaa also have their say The seminar is moderated by the editor-in-chief of Swedish Forum magazine, Mark Isitt.
The seminar is open to all and free of charge. Secure a seat by
registering beforehand through the link on the front page. Read more on the Events page. TaiK Anniversary seminar takes a look at the University as a source of
creativity
May 16th 2006
TThe seminar series that began on the first week of the festival
continues! On Monday, May 22nd, celebrating 20 years of creative life in Arabianranta, the Fountain of Creativity seminar addresses the University of Art and Design Helsinki’s role in cultivating Finnish society and culture. Speakers include Finnish trailblazers, researchers, artists, curators and art dealers; Ilona Anhava, Raoul Grunstein, Yrjänä Levanto, Ulla-Maaria Mutanen, Vuokko Nurmesniemi, Yrjö Sotamaa, Teppo Turkki, Tapio Vapaasalo, Heidi Wikar, Tanja Kotro and Kalevi Ekman. The seminar is moderated by Pekka Toivanen.
Through presentations and discussion, the seminar examines research as the foundation of new knowledge and know-how, an artistically varied environment as the accelerator of creative thinking and internationality as the source of creativity.
The seminar is open to all and free of charge. Secure a seat by
registering beforehand through the link on the front page. Read more on the Events page. Installation to Arabianrannan Portaali
May 14th 2006
Environmental art student Meeri Quinn’s diploma work, an art
installation, occupies Arabianrannan Portaali from the middle of the
Masters of Arts Festival until fall . This grand work can be admired in
Arabianranta’s Cromo house, Arabianranta 6. During the festival, the
space is open on weekdays between 8 AM and 4 PM.
Masters of Arts 2006 festival tram operates on line 6
May 12th 2006
The Masters of Arts festival tram, dressed in a special festival outfit, operates on the line 6 from May 9th til May 28th between the city centre and Arabianranta.
A ride in the tram, which has a new interior and exterior look, is not quite ordinary, as students from Helsinki Polytechnic Stadia’s
Performing Arts Programme and Arcada Polytechnic jazz up the tram ride with surprising events.
On the art line, mornings start without any special commotion, with homely chatting, a weather forecast or simply silence. Sometimes unexpected figures show up in the tram, raising questions: what’s really happening, where are we going, who are we? Every now and then, you can hear the sounds of an accordion in the tram and witness the spirited choreographies of OoRail’s male gymnasts.
The festival tram operates from early morning until approximately 7 PM on weekdays, between 8:30 AM and 6 PM on Saturdays, and between 10:30 AM and 8:30 PM on Sundays. The times of departure from the final stops can be found at www.hkl.fi.
Masters of Arts Festivalís seminars feature greats from home and beyond
May 9th 2006
The Masters of Arts Festivalís anticipated seminars deal with design, creativity, architecture and the topical phenomena of in-between cultures. Orators and talkers include experts from both Finland and abroad. On the first week of the festival versatile designers Jaime Hayón, Inga Sempé and Droog Design founder Gijs Bakker sparkle alongside Johan Olin and Aamu Song in the Design Radicals seminar on May 11th. Katja Lindroos commands, calms and provokes as the moderator of the seminar.
The timely subject of cultural centres and urban culture is addressed by Birgitta Persson, Alberto Oto, Ana Maria Tavares and Juha Huuskonen, among others, at the Culture of In-between Spaces seminar on May 12th. Moderating the seminar are living legends of urban culture, Elukka Eskelinen, leader of Forum Virium, and Pekka Timonen, Helsinki's culture manager.
Philosopher Esa Saarinen takes a look at creative life on May 13th. The seminar ends with a discussion about the elementary particles of creativity, featuring the input of Mikko Ijäs and Juhana Arkio, both participants in the Masters of Arts exhibition.
The seminars are open to all and can be attended free of charge! Ensure a seat by registering through the link on the front page. The seminars continue on May 22nd and 23rd with new topics! Read more on the Events page.
International acclaim to MoA graphic artist
April 28th 2006
A member of the Masters of Arts Festival’s team of creators, Maija Louekari’s HO-HOI! pattern was named best of the year 2005 in the global Elle Deco International Design Awards competition. Competing in the final were products and designers nominated by the editorial offices of Elle Decoration magazine in 20 different countries. The HO-HOI! fabric was submitted to the final by the magazine’s German editorial office. Maija Louekari has graduated with a bachelor of arts degree from the department of Interior Architecture and Furniture Design and is currently working on her master’s degree. At the Masters of Arts Festival, Maija Louekari is responsible for exhibition graphics among other things.
Silver Award to the visual look of the 2005 Masters of Arts Festival
April 13th 2006
The year’s best in advertising and graphic design has been chosen from
the 1397 works that took part in Vuoden Huiput 2005 competition.
The Silver Award went to graphic design students at the University of
Art and Design Helsinki, Anne-Mari Ahonen, Daniel Bembibre and Arja
Karhumaa for designing the visual look of the 2005 Masters of Arts
Festival. One of the designers, Daniel Bembibre is a part of this year’s
Masters of Arts Festival’s exhibition with his Put Things in Order
project.
A Silver Award was also given to the book Suomen lasten historia
featured at this year’s MoA Festival, the illustration and layout of
which are the handiwork of Jussi Kaakinen.
Bologna Children’s Book Fair participant Reka Kiraly at the MoA exhibition
March 31st 2006
An exhibitor at the MoA Festival, Reka Kiraly has been selected to join
an internationally respected exhibition at the Children’s Book Fair in
Bologna. Reka Kiraly’s Earthworm image series is featured at the fair’s
Illustrators Exhibition 2006. 2544 works from all over the world were
submitted to the jury and ninety-two were chosen for the exhibition. The
influential international jury was comprised of publishers, artists and
museum directors. The featured artists include established, famous
figures as well as promising new talents. Reka Kiraly is the only artist
selected for the exhibition representing Finland.
Following the Bologna fair, the exhibition will travel to various
venues, mainly in Japan.
Reka Kiraly is interested in illustration and inclusive graphic design,
which is also the subject of her diploma work at the MoA exhibition. Hella Wuolijoki-awarded Jan Forsström at the MoA Exhibition
March 29th 2006
The Hella Wuolijoki equality prize granted by the Finnish Broadcasting
Company has been awarded to scriptwriter Jan Forsström, scriptwriter/
director Lotta Kupiainen and producers Piia Nokelainen and Petri
Jokiranta for the film Caasha shown on YLE TV1. The jury described the
film about the relationship between a Finnish man and a Somali-born
woman as a new opening to national, multicultural fiction production.
Award-winner Jan Forsström participates in the MoA exhibition with his
film Nightmares. Nightmares is a short film about a woman that has
constant nightmares. Finally she understands the dreams hold a message
for her.
The Best Designed Book of the Year Driven by Love and Fury featured at the MoA exhibition
March 23th 2006
The best designed book of the year selected by The Finnish Book Arts Committee features the picture editing of Marco Melander, one of the graduating masters of arts partaking in the MoA exhibition. He has also shot most of the photographs in this interview book about Stefan Lindfors written by Jörn Donner. The graphic design of the book is the handiwork of the University of Art and Design Helsinki's professor of Graphic Design, Tapio Vapaasalo and student Tuukka Rantala.
The Committee had the following to say about the book: "The best designed book of the year could be described as a book to be desired. It displays a great amount of love for the tradition of experimental typography and a dose of elegantly controlled fury of narrative illustration. The methods of modern photojournalism have been skilfully applied to book arts. Driven by Love and Fury is a groundbreaking masterpiece in book arts."
The book was published by Aamulehti Kirjat and binded, printed and reproduced by Otavan Kirjapaino Oy.
The festival gets its own font
March 20th 2006
One of the Masters of Arts Festival's graphic artists, Hanna Kurppa has designed a font, Valiance, that has been used in creating the
visual identity for the festival.
Valiance was conceived in
Holland in the summer of 2005, where Kurppa was finishing her diploma
work in the Royal Academy of Art based in Hague. Designed for
multilingual lay-out projects, Valiance is a font that comprises both
Latin and Cyrillic alphabets. The design work has strived for a balanced
realization of Cyrillic and Latin print in long column text - for one,
by avoiding historic shapes especially in the case of the Cyrillic
alphabet. The font's development continues.
Young Designer of the Year Award winner Mikko Paakkanen in MoA exhibition
March 13th 2006
One of the Masters of Arts Festival exhibitors, Mikko Paakkanen got the Design Forum Finland's Young Designer of the Year prize for 2006 together with Jukka Korpihete.
Mikko Paakkanen has designed products, including furniture, that are currently in production and have already received prizes. The prize jury noted that the prize winners' high-quality work represents innovative young Finnish design combining individual creativity with a language of form reinforced by international influences.
Paakkanen participates in the exhibition with Vino-sofa designer for Modus Natura.
Read more: www designforum.fi
The educational institutes in Arabianranta join forces to create a feel-good festival
February 27th 2006
Alongside the University of Art and Design Helsinki, the other educational institutes in Arabianranta add their own flavor to the Masters of Arts Festival. Helsinki Polytechnic Stadia's Faculty of Culture, Arcada Polytechnic and the Pop & Jazz Conservatory enhance the festival with concerts and other crowd-pleasing events. Most of these events will be held in a space constructed in conjunction with the festival's exhibition, but the educational institutes' own facilities are utilised as well. There will be updates on the events in the festival's webpage's calendar of events.
The Masters of Arts Festival is created with collaborators Febryary 3rd 2006
The main partner for the Masters of Arts 2006 Festival is Nyt, a weekly supplement to Helsingin Sanomat. In television, MoA teams up with Nelonen. Nelonen will start showing advertisements produced by the students of the University of Art and Design Helsinki by the end of April.
Works chosen for Masters of Arts exhibition
January 10th 2006
The works that shall be presented at the University of Art and Design Helsinki's biggest exhibition have been chosen. Some 90 individuals from all of the University's degree programmes will participate in the exhibition. Altogether 140 future Masters of Arts applied to take part in the event.
In charge of the selection process was curator Tomas Ivan Träskman, who stays busy even though the jury part is over. Tomas Ivan elaborates on the forthcoming process by likening himself to a bard from the middle-ages. "A bard's cultural function is to vocalize the concerns and topics of discussion of the community in song and rhyme form. I'm the one who ought to sing about these issues to the community with my own language of expression," the curator clarifies. Tomas Ivan describes the works as very strong. How, then, are they "strong"? "I would say that a piece of work is strong when its creator is successful in making many sensations visible," Tomas Ivan answers. And adds: "This strength is like rhythm - the rhythm of seeing and hearing on a deeper level." A number of works have special qualities that Tomas Ivan is fascinated by: their ability to captivate and express the desires and experiences of their young creators. The artists are able to define themselves and their lives through their works. "How will this power and rhythm be felt during the Festival?" the curator asks himself and continues: "A festival by nature is simultaneously personal and collective. By May one bard has transformed into a choir of master bards who address their audience from one night to the other."
Read more of the curator's thoughts and check out the list of the chosen students on the exhibition page. |
