The straight forwardness might be the most Finnish thing in my work. Tarja Tuupanen interviewed by Klimt02

Do you think that jewellery is being standardized? What is there of local and universal in your artistic work?
Slightly yes, some mainstream trends can be seen. But there are always those who are on the edge of the field and bring something new or controversial or "wrong" into making. It is always welcomed.
The most local or most Finnish thing in my work might be the straight forwardness, but I don´t know what to say about the universal.


What do you expect when exposing your work to the public (for example with an exhibition)?
Like everybody- some kind of reaction in the viewer, a movement of emotion. Whether positive or negative, but a moment of attention.


Are other areas besides the jewellery, present in your work?
I am a very material based artist so with the chosen material there comes already things like status or value or purely the character of the material. If the material I have used, has been used before (like marble tableware) it comes with its own history and cultural references.


The last work, book, film, city that has moved me was...
This spring I saw an exhibition by Berlinde De Bruyckere. I cried. The work was so deeply touching and extremely brilliant.


Is there any designer, jeweller, artist, you appreciate a lot?
I admire numerous colleagues, because of the way they work, how well they do social media advertising or how well they organize their practise or how well they give a lecture etc. Specially I admire and appreciate people who work in projects or organisations to improve the artist´s possibilities to work in their profession.


What piece or work has given you the most satisfaction?
Usually, I realize a bit later that some piece has been more significant than another. Most likely it is a piece that has caused the most insecurity while working with it or even shame. In the end, those weird pieces give the most.


Do you read Jewellery Magazines? What is your source to get information?
I try to make an effort to see exhibitions, all kind of art exhibitions, to get information and "food". I read jewellery magazines and literature (always too little) but maybe the biggest source of information is internet, jewellery platforms and invitations and articles that pass by in social media.


Do you discuss your work with other jewellery artists or any other person?
I work in an artist group called Hibernate, and time to time we have a project together and we discuss about our work over a dinner. There is 4 of us;  Helena Lehtinen, Eija Mustonen, Jenni Sokura and me, and each of us is born in the different decade, which gives us wide perspective. We can be quite straight with each other with the comments but in a safe environment. Getting feedback or reflection from colleagues is valuable.


What is your first thought when you hear the word Future?, What do you expect for?
First thought is new technologies and a creative and interesting use of them in art. The parallel of that there is often old thing that comes to the surface in cycles, material of technique, like the use of birch bark or old textile technique. There is also a concern about art education and the continuum of that, and the general respect of culture in the society. We have to keep up the noice of the art field.