Today's Rudolf Koivu would be a Game Designer

Rudolf Koivu (1890 - 1946) is one of the illustrators which has affected me most. Even if Finland's most known illustrator died already in 1946 there is no one which has escaped Koivu's sensuous lines, magical creatures from childrens' stories and Christmas cards. I claim, Koivu is for Finns the same than Carl Larsson for Swedes or Mucha for Czechs. Or perhaps even more than that.

Last summer I visited an exhibition full of Koivus drawings to different Childrens' stories. It blew my mind out. Pictures to the stories by Grimm, Topelius, Andersen were all presented. Thinking of the fact that the world was not full of images Koivu's characters, trolls, sceneries and mystical creatures were amazingly original ones. Unlike today's illustrator who has grown in a world full of images, Koivu had to bring these creatures from his mind. That is a thing which often has been neglegted.

My first memories of Koivu, though I did not know that by then, were the sensuous covers of the Kotiliesi magazine we had in our attick in our childhood home. Then came the different stories and cards. I have often said that if Koivu lived today, he would be world famous computer game artist working for major AAA game studios. In fact, many of his illustrations resemble gaming scenery a lot.

Reason for this blog is that I noticed the Arts Museum of Lahti is having an exhibition of the Koivu's illustration covering the childhood. If you are around, pay a visit there. (http://www.lahdenmuseot.fi/museot/fi/tiedotusvalineille/kuin-silloin-ennen-lapsuus-rudolf-koivun-kuvittamana/)

Rudolf Koivu organisation is also having a great virtual gallery for some of his works. It can be found here: http://www.rudolfkoivu.fi

Koivu in Finnish wikipedia.

Illustration for the Little Mermaid by H.C. Andersen.


Kotiliesi from 1933.

Troll in Töölö, Helsinki. Photo from Retretti exhibition, summer 2012.

Oriental theme from Rudolfkoivu.fi gallery.

Slavery was abolished in USA in 1865, in Finland it was done in the 1950's

In 2010 Finland's National Brand Committee lead by former Nokia CEO Jorma Ollila presented its paper to a former Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb. The committee stated proudly that Finland was the forerunner of democracy since Finnish women became the first in the world to have unrestricted rights both to vote and to stand for parliament. But something was left out from the report. Something which was part of the Finnish Social Policy in many decades of the 20th Century. In many countries this would be called slavery. And this is something which is quieted story of the Finnish history. A modern time slavery. Finnish historician Jouko Halmekoski writes about the modern slave market which was the fact in Finland as late as in the 1950's. He interviewed 25 persons who had been auctioned away by the local government in order to save money in sustaining the children. The lowest bidders won the custody of the child for one years period. Ironically the auction was held in the 29

Lue lisää »

Kasvien keruu ja herbaario - prässäämisohjeet

1970-luvun peruskoulu-uudistus unohti kasvion! Kuulun siihen peruskoulusukupolveen, jonka ei tarvinnut kerätä kesälomansa aikana herbaariota eli kasvikokoelmaa. Se oli sääli, sillä pläräsin useasti veljeni keräämää upeaa 50 kasvin kokoelmaa. Selasin usein sen sivuja ihastellen kauniisti kuivattuja ja prässättyjä kasveja. Olisin halunnut koota sellaisen itsekin. Se jäi, kunnes vihdoin tänä kesänä pääsin kannustamaan poikaani hänen kasvinkeruuretkillään. Sain seuratakin häntä ja hänen serkkujaan metsien siimekseen ja peltojen pientareille. Hienointa oli, että hänen opettajansa jopa kannusti vanhempia ja isovanhempia sekä lapsia liikkumaan yhdessä luonnosta nauttien - kunhan lapsi valitsisi poimittavat kasvit. Matka aurinkoisella soratiellä kohti luontoa ja kerättäviä kasveja. Kasvienprässääminen palasi takaisin Jossain vaiheessa kasvien kerääminen palasi peruskoulun opetussuunnitelmaan. Vapaaehtoinen, mutta numeroon positiivisesti vaikuttava, kasvikokoelma kerätään yleis

Lue lisää »

I write in margins

Hae tästä blogista