Tuija Markonsalo
Tuija's dense bead work and baby faces definitely made an impression at Habitare. This is the first time I had seen work like this, and done in such a good way. Her intense beading is striking, and the time and effort gone into each piece is obvious. The choice of the weird and wonderful baby dolls have left a creepy imprint in my mind, which is always a good thing. I think this is a case of 'I wish I had done that', and I am envious of her patience.
Aino Kajaniemi
Things I Never Did, 2007, tapestry
I find myself fascinated by textiles outside of my own specialism of embroidery. Weave in particular, never fails to leave me perplexed. Aino Kajaniemi is no exception. I looked upon her illustrative weaves with awe, and my mind was put in a twist. I can honestly say I have no idea how she created such spot on translations of drawings to weave!
Studio Kaisi
Of all the work displayed at Habitare, I have selected probably the least traditionally Finnish work. Finland, like other Scandinavian art, is very function based, meaning it tend to be very plain. However, Studio Kaisi is a perfect example of a Finnish artist going against the traditional trend. Bold two tone prints, with hectic illustrative designs dominated the space. I was especially drawn to the framed work which, as shown above, was displayed in a much more interesting fashion. Although the frames are busy and perhaps over bearing, they are a great way of gaining the attention of passers by.
