RECORD NUMBER OF COMICS AT HELSINKI BOOK FAIR
Finnish comics are celebrating their 100th anniversary. At the Helsinki Book Fair, organised on 27–30 October 2011 at the Helsinki Exhibition & Convention Centre, they will be given the prominence they deserve. This year, the Book Fair will devote a greater amount of its programme than ever before to comics, and almost 30 comics artists will perform. To mark this jubilee year, the father of the Viivi and Wagner comic strip, Jussi "Juba" Tuomola, will open the Book Fair.
Finnish comics are faring well
Today, Finnish comics are being published in more languages than ever. On the Comics Export panel, Maria Antas, a project coordinator from Finnish Literature Exchange, Reija Sann, editor of the Finnish Comics Annual 2012 and Kalle Hakkola, head of the Finnish Comics Society, discuss the appeal and export of Finnish comics.
The current state of Finnish comics is discussed by Laura Lyhykäinen, secretary-general of the comics jubilee year, regional artist Solja Järvenpää and Otto Sinisalo, President of the Finnish Comics Society.
Introducing the various faces of Finnish comics
Juba Tuomola and Pertti Jarla discuss the fine line between good and bad taste. Tuomola is author of the Viivi and Wagner comic strip, while Jarla draws the comic strip Fingerpori. Maijastiina Vilenius has studied Pertti Jarla's intricate use of language and creativity. She will present her findings at the fair.
In addition, the following comic strip artists will perform at the fair: Maria Björklund, Kaarina Goldberg, Pauli Hirtolahti, Tuuli Hypén, M. A. Jeskanen, Jupu Kallio, Joonas Lehtimäki, Tommi Liimatta, Tommi Musturi, Anni Nykänen, Kati Närhi, Milla Paloniemi, Hannele Richert, Anna Sailamaa, Ville Tietäväinen, Ville Tiihonen and Petteri Tikkanen.
International tidings
In addition to Finnish comic book artists, several artists from abroad will attend the Book Fair. These include Don Rosa, the author of Donald Duck. The cartoon character celebrates his 60th anniversary in Finland this year. Also attending are the Icelandic Hugleikur Dagsson, the Swedish Nina Hemmingsson and the Estonian Joonas Sildre.
The political comics of the French magazine Le monde diplomatique combine quality in journalism and comics. Two comic book artists, the Norwegian-Finnish Karstein Volle and Johanna Rojola, discuss new political comics.
At the Finnish Comics Society's stand, you can become acquainted with international comics and meet international comic strip artists. New Swedish comics, among others, are presented at this stand.
Comic magazine and Call It a Day exhibition
Together with the comics artists and the audience, the Finnish Comics Society will prepare a comic magazine at the Book Fair. The magazine will be distributed at the fair on Saturday and Sunday. This year, the magazine's theme is racism.
The international Call It a Day comics project will hold an Estonian-Finnish comics exhibition, entitled Finest, at the fair. The artists have each created their own four-page vision on the topic 'Morning, day, evening and night'.
Further information: The Finnish Fair Corporation, PR agent Teija Armanto, tel. +358 50 3760804, teija.armanto@finnexpo.fi
Helsinki Book Fair logos & and the 'Töröhäntä – 100th comics anniversary' drawing by Kaisa Leka can be found at: http://mediabank.finnexpo.fi/