Talk to Yenni.
In early July 2022, Tonkachi was in JapanFirst solo exhibition "Sarugaku -cho, Shibuya -ku, Finnish Forest"I talked to Yenni Tuominen who came back.
About the forest
TK:
Your work reminds you of a forest fairy. Is that the right perception?
Jenni:
yes. I like being in the forest and I like Finnish fairy tale. So my work lives in the forest.
TK:
Did you live in the forest, or did they originally lived in the forest?
Jenni:
I feel like I lived in the forest.
TK:
In other words, I'm not going to live in the forest. You were there yourself.
Jenni:
Yes, ourselves.
TK:
Did you grow up near the forest?
Jenni:
The place where I live was always very close to the forest and nature. You can see it immediately from the outside of the window. I often went to the forest with my mother and picked up mushrooms. Now I go to the forest with her husband. In Finland, nature is always familiar. After walking for 5 minutes, it's already in the forest.
TK:
Have you ever lived far away from the forest?
Jenni:
When I was a kid, I lived in the southernmost tip of Sweden. The house was near the sea.
TK:
You were always in an environment where you could access it naturally.
Jenni:
yes. This work was made when I lived away from the sea. I made it while I wanted to go to the sea again and walk on a long sandy beach.
TK:
Is the forest and the sea similar?
Jenni:
yes. The sea is a bit scary because the sea is so powerful. The forest also has great power. The tree may fall when the storm comes. Both are extremely strong.
TK:
Have you ever been scared in the forest?
Jenni:
There were several times the wind became too strong. When the storm comes, it's exciting and very scary. It is very quiet because I can't hear people's voices in the forest. You can hear all the natural voices there. I can't hear the sound of cars and trains. I feel like I live in a soap bubble.
Sympathy for children
TK:
Did that sense have been around since childhood?
Jenni:
It was always like that in the forest.
Jenni:
I remembered another one. When I was little, I took a mushroom with her mother and was separated from her mother. At that time, there was no mobile phone, so I tried to shout her mother's name, but at that time I encountered a spatula with her child. If you feel dangerous, your mother will fight thoroughly to protect her child. I killed her breath so as not to notice, and hid in the shade until the parent and child passed.
TK:
That's scary (laughs). Your work seems to be girls and infantity itself.
Jenni:
I sympathize with the children's thoughts and speaking skills. That's what I want in the work. I myself feel like I'm still young (laughs), but in a sense, children are respected. I have a strong interest and longing for what they think and what they can do.
TK:
Usually, when people grow up, they forget about their childhood. You seem to have grown up without forgetting.
Jenni:
yes. I think I have a mission to fight to protect the rights of children (laughs). I think children need time to spend good childhood. When you become a teenager, you lose a part of your imagination. As you grow up, you'll be afraid to show something inside you. But we all need children in ourselves.
TK:
Did you strive to keep your childhood?
Jenni:
No. I have strong emotions like a child. It always exists in your center. I am very happy, angry, calm, and sad. I have a variety of emotions that adults try to hide and put them on.
Adults don't know
TK:
When did you want to be an adult who hides your feelings?
Jenni:
It is little as you grow up. When I observed my friends and many adults, I realized that I didn't want to show strong emotions.
TK:
Did you feel a sense of freedom and freedom when you wanted to get all your feelings?
Jenni:
yes.
TK:
So, did you decide to stop adults?
Jenni:
No, I didn't think about that. I just tried to be myself. That happened naturally.
TK:
Is it related to what you made as a child and the work you are making now?
Jenni:
The same is true of making many horses and pony. I love it. This is the most beautiful animal I know. Their movements are like a dream, and I always feel happy.
Meet Marimekko
TK:
Your career was the starting point that won the Marimekko competition. What was the meaning of becoming a Marimekko designer for you?
* Marimekko is a leading apparel company in Europe.
Jenni:
It was always a dream to work with Marimekko. When I saw the announcement of the competition, I thought this was my turn. Since he started working with Marimekko, they gave me a lot of freedom. I was very honored.
TK:
Your work looks like a very natural desire.
Jenni:
When you're working, you don't think about what you are doing. Just do it. When doing pottery, just pick up the clay lump and shape it. I don't think about making a pony or making a girl. However, it is natural.
TK:
If you think about what to make first, will the work change?
Jenni:
just a little. Some people offered to make the same work accurately. I can't make the same thing. All the works I make are different from each other. If I ask someone to copy something accurately when I'm drawing, it's over. It will be different from creation.
TK:
What do you like about pottery?
Jenni:
I like to make a shape, that is, seek the shape. Clay is a wonderful material and you can knead your emotions there.
Who are you?
TK:
What kind of child was it?
Jenni:
I was born in South Sweden and moved to Finland when I was 6 years old. He was an active and happy child. When I was little, I often went to Copenhagen. I often went to the sea. I liked long sandy beaches. After that, I became interested in art and moved to Helsinki and started studying art and design.
TK:
What made you decide to go to the University of Fine University.
Jenni:
There were no other options (laughs). I was not interested in other careers at all.
TK:
What is most affected by puberty?
Jenni:
What I liked the most was MTV (laughs). I looked closely. I really liked music. After that, she has been with her husband, Jukka, and has been living together for 20 years.
* MTV is an American cable channel opened in 1981. It was born as a music specialty channel that continues to play a 24 -hour popular music video clip, and has become a synonym for music programs.
TK:
That means that MTV and my husband Jukka (Yucka) were most affected in my life (laughs).
Jenni:
yes. When I was a teenager, I was MTV, and then became Jukka (laughs). I also liked dancing.I often went to techno -based parties to do in the warehouse.
TK:
I want to know more about you. What do you like?
Jenni:
I am a very positive person. I want to make people happy. I want to expand my happiness to others. I'm a perfectionist, so sometimes it's tough. Even if you draw a picture, you will think that you can't draw well. Now I am drawing 1000 pictures in one year. I draw a picture every day with a sketchbook. When I was at the University of Fine University, I didn't like my paintings, but now I like my paintings. This sketchbook is very good because progress is visible. I always work, but I also love gardening. Sometimes I like going somewhere without thinking. I like to feel calm.
TK:
How do you spend summer vacation?
Jenni:
I also like gardening, flea market, and swimming. I swim twice a day. And riding a bicycle or eating ice cream.
TK:
It looks like a child (laughs).
Jenni:
Yes (laughs).
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Jenni Tuominen's solo exhibition "Sarugaku -cho, Shibuya -ku, Finnish Forest. ]
Service: July 22, 2022 (Fri) -August 28 (Sun)
Opening time: 12-19:00 (reservation required)
Holiday: Monday / Tuesday
Venue: Nokogiri 5-17 Sarugaku-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0033 Daiichi Nishio Building 2nd floor
https://www.nokogiribytonkachi.jp/
Jenni's Fairy Forest SHOP Online Shop
https://tonkachi.co.jp/special/jenni_feature/