Born in Kuopio, Finland 1959.
Lived in Kyoto, Japan 1989-2012.
Founder of the Finnish Woodcut Artists Society.
Member of the Association of Finnish Printmakers.
Member of Helsinki Artists Association.
1981 Graduated from Kankaanpää School of Fine Art, Department of printmaking.
1989 Master of Arts, Jyväskylä University, Department of Art Education.
1989-1991 Kyoto Seika University, Japan, Department of printmaking.
Research student in Japanese traditional woodblock printmaking and papermaking.
1992-1996 Private studies in papermaking, bookbinding and Japanese calligraphy in Kyoto and Osaka.
1996-1997 Research in paper conservation and bookbinding in Florence, Italy.
2013 Degree of Doctor of Arts in Aalto University, School of Arts, Design and Architecture, Helsinki Finland.
EXHIBITIONS
Several annual solo- and group exhibitions in Finland since 1980 and in Japan since 1990 / Group exhibitions in Europe since 1985 and in Canada since 2000 / Group exhibitions and participation in various art fairs and events in the United States since 2004. In Australia 2017
INTERNATIONAL AWARDS
The Kakehashi International Calligraphy exhibition, National Art Center,
Tokyo: Award of the Best non-Japanese calligraphy) in 2009, 2010 and 2011 /
The International Art and Design exhibition. Kyoto Municipal Art museum, I. prize 2010.
WORKS IN COLLECTIONS (selected)
Parliament of Finland / Alvar Aalto museum, Jyväskylä / Wäinö Aaltonen museum, Turku / Keuruu art museum / Kuopio City /Varkaus art museum / Seinäjoki City / Jämsänkoski City / Mikkeli City / Jyväskylä City / Cultural board of Central Finland collection /House of Humor and Satire (Gabrovo, Bulgaria) / Oni no Koryu museo (Oe, Japan) / Honen-in Temple (Kyoto Japan) /Honenin Mori no Center (Kyoto, Japan) / Seinen Kaigaikyoryoku Kyokai (Yokohama Japan)
ARTIST BOOKS IN COLLECTIONS (selected)
Helsinki City Library (Rikhardinkatu Artist Book collection) / Ateneum art museum, Helsinki / St Lawrence University in Canton NY, USA / Artbooks Yamazaki Collection, Kyoto, Japan.
PUBLIC ART WORKS
In Finland: Kuopio Childrens’ Hospital /Jyväskylä Central Hospital / Lappeenranta Medical station.
In USA: Kaiser Permanente Hospital, Oakland, California.
In Japan: Takayama Clinic Hospital, Awaji / Kyoto Fukushi Center / Palace Side Hotel, Kyoto.
TEACHING WORK
In Finland: Teacher of printmaking (woodcut and intaglio) at Jyväskylä Printmaking Center 1983-1988 / Woodblock printmaking and bookbinding courses at the Finnish Art Academy in 1995, 1998, 2007, 2010 / Teacher of papermaking and bookbinding in several art institutions in Finland 1995-1999 / Special courses of Japanese woodblock printmaking at Helsinki University-Palmenia education center in Lahti 2010-2015. Helsinki Artists Association Art school teacher since 2018. Aalto University Mokuhanga teacher since 2018.
In Japan: Teacher of drawing and painting at Dessanjuku private art school in Kyoto, Japan 2001-2008 / Lecturer of aesthetics and Western art philosophy at Osaka Gakuin University 2001-2003 / Tutor of creative media and printmaking at Kyoto Seika University, department of printmaking 2009-2012 (part-time) / Visiting instructor in Mokuhanga Artist Residence MI-LAB in Kawaguchi since 2016
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Freelance graphic designer and illustrator since 1981 / Curator and organizer of art exhibitions and cultural exchange between Finland and Japan since 1991 / Book design and artist books since 1994 / Freelance writer: Articles in magazines and art catalogues since 1997 / Active member of the Kyoto Art Council during 2000-2010 / Active member of the Kyoto City Art Festival team, Visual art section during 2008-2012 / Board member and the Head of the Kyoto office during the 1st International Mokuhanga Conference in Japan, 2011 / Board member of the 3rd International Mokuhanga Conference in Hawaii 2017 / Board adviser of the 4th International Mokuhanga Conference in Nara, Japan 2021.
