white work

Amulets for Osiris (2009) 18 carat gold, electronic shrink wrap,
door bell buzzer parts, brass conductors, gold plated brass

Another archival photography moment, now when there's still ample sunshine outdoors. I made these earrings / objects as a part of our gold project (RMIT, Sarah Ross) mid last year, playfully interpreting ancient Egyptian jewellery in contemporary materials as my theme. Osiris lived in the darkness of the underworld – these were imagined amulets for bringing light in. The circular form which repeats through each piece is the oldest known symbol for the Sun.

Click on the images for more detail.

waiting

January 2010

summer, untitled

December 2009

Click on the images for detail

todo sobre mi madre – safe armour neck piece

todo sobre mi madre, 2008, safety pins, industrial catch * Inari Kiuru 2008

I've recently began to photograph my jewellery work, mostly for archival purposes. This is a neck piece inspired by the 1999 Pedro Almodovar film All About My Mother, made for the annual RMIT jewellery auction a couple of years ago. I like the graphic way safety pins weave together and form a strong yet light texture. One day I'll make a protective coat out of them. Armour for the city.

Thank you again Kiah Grace McIntyre for the long and patient loan of the piece.

Hello 2010, snow and ice

Hi again : )

While we're sweating in the humid heat of ripe Australian summer, in wintery Helsinki icicles are being removed from high gutters so that no-one will get pierced (into eternal summer?) by a falling sharp spike!

This year Finland, especially the south, has had a winter with exceptionally plentiful snow cover. My photographer sister, Kukka-Maria, sent these photos a few days ago.

"Look out for snow and ice falling from the roof (while boogeying in mid-air)."

Happy Holidays

Season's Greetings to friends and strangers,

from under the huge, blue skies of Western Australia.
Here the light is blindingly bright and the warm nights made of velvet ... and wine!
: )
Back online early January.

xx IK

I was amazed when I turned my head to look

I know how corny or worn this may sound, but …
Sometimes I can hardly breathe, realising how much beauty there is.
*
I was just walking away from the kitchen to do something else for a while, but turned back to for some reason, and saw the sink. I hadn't even realised while doing the dishes what was in front of me. This is the exact setting, I didn't touch or move anything – just almost started to cry and then got the camera : )

Perhaps this is life's way to compensate for the bad stuff that happens, to give us unlimited, stunning, amazing, breathtaking beauty, everywhere, if we choose to notice it.









- Click on the images for a more detailed (higher resolution) view -

heavinesst

Heavinesst / pencil, ink, digital / sketch c.2001

On a wing and a prayer

I love how the texture on the praying mantis' back is so similar to the pattern of human skin.
Or is it the other way round?
If you click on the image, you can see this in much better detail.

One reason why Finnish people drink

Part of the current introspection of identity and creative work: background.

Des Chansons Pop!

This is gold.
Please note the sublime choreography, and the mysterious sinking man in the beginning.
Enjoy!! : )

More older work: The Book of Changing Things, 2005

This year, and especially lately, I've felt an urge to gather, inspect and mull over the things created in the past. This includes graphic design projects from a good long decade, as well as a few illustration commissions and paintings realised before beginning jewellery studies at RMIT in 2008.

My plan is to collate all this work into a holistic website-archive ... one day ... but I think mostly, it's interesting to reflect on two-dimensional work in retrospect, in order to make mental space and to gain enough courage to finally begin talking about jewellery and silversmithing pieces here.

Venturing into a completely new area of making, after a career in all things flat (as in paper and digital screen), now playing with fire, metal and powertools, is at times daunting and very challenging. But mostly it is exhilarating, totally wonderful and totally addictive. This is it! So, I think of this, looking at past work now, almost as a ritual of moving into a new phase in life and creative thought, welcoming what ever may be around the corner. Mustering belief.

These images are from The Book of Changing Things, a story for children and young adults in Alice in Wonderland-ish way, by Odo Hirsch (aka David Kausmann), Allen & Unwin 2005. The pictures (pen, pencil and ink) are influenced by my memories of books from my own childhood, especially by the tradition of Eastern European story telling.

Click on the images, as per usual, to have a larger and more detailed view.

a thought for late November

Every winter, I forget how many white scars I have, all over.
Every spring, the first sunshine, skin changing colour –
I remember again.

Childhood summers, teenage accidents, work mishaps
and everything else, all written on the body.

I am a map : )

Jewellery before RMIT 1: winter cargo

winter cargo (2003)
oxidised copper, enamel, glass beads, industrial steel netting

This neck piece was inspired by the beach in winter; what washes on the shore, how everything tangles together, the colours … Click on the image for a sharper view.

tiny glimpses of larger work

Regarding my previous post, this is what I'm working on. These are small details
from some of the (as yet unpublished : ) illustrations.