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Press release 26 May, 2015
MY KALEVALA
14 June – 20 September, 2015
Granary, Fiskars Village
The My Kalevala exhibition at the Granary in Fiskars Village displays contemporary blacksmiths’
interpretations of the Kalevala, the Finnish national epic that has strongly influenced our cultural heritage.
Based on ancient folk poetry preserved in oral (sung) tradition, it was collected and edited by Elias Lönnrot
and published in 1849. One of its central characters is the blacksmith Ilmarinen, whose masterpieces include a
magic fortune-bringing artefact, the Sampo.
There the blacksmith, Ilmarinen,
Set at work to build his smithy,
Built a fire and raised a chimney;
On the next day laid his bellows,
On the third day built his furnace,
And began to forge the Sampo.
(Kalevala, rune X, translation John Martin Crawford, 1888)
Forge a fortune
As late as the mid-1900s there was a blacksmith in nearly every village in Finland, but today only few people
make a living as village blacksmiths. Surely a blacksmith’s job description includes subcontracting work on e.g.
construction sites, but the majority of blacksmiths make artisan products for sale. Some of them create art.
There are two blacksmith organisations in Finland, Suomen Sepät ry (Finnish Asssociation of Blacksmiths) and
Taidesepät ry (Artist Blacksmiths’ Association). They are the joint organisers of the Fiskars Village Forging
Days 2015, comprising the My Kalevala exhibition (14 June – 20 September) and the Nordic Championship in
Forging 2015 competition, which takes place from 30 July to 2 August.
Strike while the iron is hot
Invitations to submit proposals for the My Kalevala exhibition were sent in autumn 2014 to all Nordic
Countries and Estonia, and 55 proposals were received. The exhibition works were selected by a jury, whose
members were interior designer Eero Haikala, sculptor Kim Simonsson and master blacksmith Teo Mero.
The exhibition features many splendid interpretations of characters and conceptions very familiar to Finns –
heroes with superb mental powers and craft skills, hard quests, tragedies, wars and wooings – simultaneously
bringing smithery to the third millennium.
No one is born a master
The majority of those who participate in the exhibition are blacksmiths and master blacksmiths –
professionals and highly skilled craftsmen, which shows in their work. Some are artists and design students.
The participants are: artist blacksmith Lars Larsson from Sweden, artist blacksmiths Steven Carpenter and
Tobbe Malm from Norway, blacksmith, MA Jokum Lind Jensen from Denmark, blacksmith Heigo Jelle from
Estonia, and sculptor Päivi Aho, master blacksmith Upi Anttila, master blacksmith Jorma Dahlström, metal
artisan student Vesa Halmerinne, designer and textile artist Maarit Hirvonen, sculptor and master
blacksmith Risto Immonen, master blacksmith Jarkko Kaartilanmäki, blacksmith, graphic designer Ari
Karhu, metal worker Timo Karjalainen, master blacksmith Juhani Krappe, master blacksmith Antti Kuikka,
blacksmith Veini Lehtonen, master blacksmith Iro Mäntykorpi, artist blacksmith Antti Nieminen, master
blacksmith Jouko Nieminen, artist Taina Pailos, blacksmith Pasi Petomaa, art forger Jorma Putkonen, artist
blacksmith Kimmo Tulimetsä, master blacksmith, designer Kirsi Vahtera, master blacksmith Tuuli Wirman,
master blacksmith Pertti Virta and Studio Ilmarinen’s team: interior architect, ptofessor Simo Heikkilä with
artisan students Pekka Korhonen, Else Märkjärvi, Lauri Niilahti, Krista Niinimäki, Mika Rautasaari and
Juha Tokkari from Finland.
Products made by the participants or related to the Kalevala theme are sold in a shop in connection with the
exhibition.
During the exhibition, the middle floor of the Granary accommodates a display of tools produced by the Fiskars
company in Billnäs in the 20th century.
The exhibition team members are master blacksmith Upi Anttila, chair, master blacksmith Pertti Virta,
member, and entrepreneur Martina Lindberg, secretary. The exhibition is designed by interior architect, knife
maker Eero Haikala.
MANY IRONS IN THE FIRE
The first Nordic Championship Competition in Forging was organised in 2000 in Kimo Ironworks in Oravainen
(now part of Vöyri), Finland. In 2008 the competition was organised in Sweden, in 2011 in Norway and in
2013 in Iceland. After this summer’s event in Fiskars Village, it will be held in Denmark in 2017.
The aim of the competition is to preserve Nordic forgery tradition, consolidate contacts over borders and
encourage young blacksmiths to invest in quality in their work. The competition is divided into three
categories: young blacksmiths, journeymen and masters. One competitor from each Nordic country competes
in each category. The panel of judges is also composed of one representative from each country.
In addition to the official competition categories, an unofficial national team competition is arranged between
the Nordic blacksmiths. Also, a joint work is compiled during the competition days, to which all blacksmiths
can contribute.
Please find attached the programme of the competition. For further information, please visit
www.nmsmide.org.
The Fiskars Village Forging Days are supported by:
Aktia Oyj Abp, Alfred Kordelin Foundation, Amperin Linja-autoliikenne Oy, Osuuspankki Raasepori, Axxell
Karjaa, Bergsrådinnan Sophie von Julins stiftelse, Celsa Steel Service, Eugène, Elisabeth och Birgit Nygréns
stiftelse, Fastighets Ab Kustregionens utbildningsfastigheter, Fiskars Oyj Abp, the Cooperative of Artisans,
Designers and Artists in Fiskars, Fiskarsin kyläseura, Fiskarsin Laatupuu, Fiskars Wärdshus Hotel, Juminkeko
Foundation, Kalevala Jewelry, Kalevalaseura, Karjaan Rauta, K-Rauta Passeli Salo, Lyreco Finland Ab,
Mainostoimisto Nallegraf, Olof Ekman Oy Ab, Påminne Oy, The City of Raseborg, Restaurant Kuparipaja,
Rekolan Panimo, the Finnish-Norwegian Cultural Foundation, the Swedish-Finnish Cultural Foundation, the
Finnish-Danish Cultural Foundation, Suomen Kotteria, the Finnish Cultural Foundation, Svenska Kulturfonden,
Tibnor Oy and Waldemar von Frenckell foundation.
Further information: Upi Anttila, chair, [email protected] / +358 50 5902 797
Martina Lindberg, secretary, [email protected] / +358 50 5666 223
Pertti Virta, Nordic competition, [email protected] / +358 500 474 402
Fiskars Village Forging Days 2015
10470 Fiskars
www.nmsmide.org