Tom of Finland retrospective attracts record audiences in Turku, Finland
• Homotopia’s year-long art exhibition attracts 90,000 visitors
• Key highlight of Turku’s European Capital of Culture 2011
• First time that major retrospective is exhibited in his birthplace
• Artwork from the permanent collection of legendary gay artist ‘Tom Of Finland’ aka Touko Laaksonen exhibited for entire year.
• Tom Of Finand legacy project to begin in Finland 2012
The year-long exhibition of legendary gay artist Tom of Finland recently ended attracting a record audience of 90,000 to the logomo space where it was presented for the year long EoCC programme. The exhibition was a key part of Turku European Capital of Culture 2011 and presented by UK arts organisation Homotopia in partnership with Turku 2011 Foundation and the Tom of Finland Foundation Los Angeles. The exhibition was a key highlight of the Homotopia Festival when Liverpool was European Capital of Culture in 2008 attracting record audiences of 7000. The major retrospective of works on paper with 70 rare and iconic drawings from (1944-1989) on special loan from the permanent collection of the Tom of Finland Foundation Los Angeles
‘Tom Of Finland’ was born Touko Laaksonen in 1920 in the village of Kaarina nr Turku, in South West Finland. At the age of nineteen, he moved to Helsinki to attend art college and, for his own personal enjoyment, created his first homoerotic drawings. He worked extensively in USA and died in Helsinki in 1991. Tom’s oeuvre has had a ripple effect throughout gay and straight culture during the last 40 years, influencing lifestyle, political tolerance, design, fashion and art to popular culture.
Cay Sevon CEO Turku 2011 Foundation said “The Tom of Finland Retrospective was one of the most valuable parts of the artistic programme of the European Capital of Culture year. The exhibition attracted significant national and international interest. Continuing ‘The project will leave a permanent heritage in Turku. The Tom of Finland Foundation (Los Angeles) have donated a piece of art to The City Museum for Modern Art, as a first work that we hope will build into a collection. Relatives of Tom (Touko Laaksonen) want to participate in supporting the establishment of such a collection, built especially on work, personal effects and personal memorabilia from Touko’s youth. Åbo Akademi University in Turku will start collecting written documents about and by Touko, particularly pertaining to Touko’s youth. The project in many ways has given us in Turku a gift of permanent relevance.”
Suvi Innilä, Programme Director of Turku 2011 Foundation added. ‘Tom of Finland retrospective was one of the most important and visited exhibitions of the Turku 2011 Programme. It introduced a wide collection of the works of this unique artist, but also the great impact he has had on the gay culture and identity as well as on popular culture in the whole world. This is something which Turku as his original home region can be proud of. This exhibition was also a good example of the wide cooperation and new encounters Turku’s year as the European Capital of Culture generated. A British organization Homotopia was the combining link to bring Turku 2011 Foundation and Tom of Finland Foundation in Los Angeles together. And during the year, this exhibition brought also a wide range of other Finnish and international partners together to honour and promote the legacy of Touko Laaksonen’.
Gary Everett, Curator of Tom Of Finland Retrospective and Artistic Director of Homotopia said “The collaboration with Turku 2011 has been a truly inspiring and fantastic experience for the organisation. The exhibition has made a significant impact, not only in making Finnish audiences aware of Tom’s legacy and influence, but, Homotopia Liverpool has reached an international audience on a grand scale. We are all very proud that in such a short time the organisation is fast becoming an international brand making an impact both at home and abroad. Presenting the exhibition was a real coup for Homotopia and a bridge between Liverpool & Turku and a truly fantastic legacy of our own capital of culture in 2008.”
Homotopia has recently been awarded National Portfolio status by Arts Council England is a significant national player in producing and presenting gay art and culture, with an international reputation.
NOTES FOR EDITORS: Homotopia is a Liverpool based arts & social justice organisation making art, intervention and participation that inspires and unite communities, programming trailblazers, social justice projects and education outreach work throughout the year. Every November it also presents an annual festival of local, national and international LGBT arts & culture featuring an eclectic programme including theatrical world premieres, contemporary dance, visual art, debate, youth & community participation, heritage & film. The organisation is currently developing projects in Poland, Finland and Turkey. Digital archive of Homotopia can be found at www.homotopia.tv
Turku 2011 Foundation is the company responsible for delivery of Turku European Capital of Culture 2011 and is the largest investment in Finnish culture for decades. Capital of Culture Programme is the EU's most important cultural initiative and attracts significant international attention . During 2011 Turku will promote, produce and organise over 200 projects and numerous community events. Turku 2011 programme will reach two million audiences and participants . The vast majority of the programme is free. Capital of Culture year is a unique opportunity to showcase Europe, Finnish culture as a country and the Turku region. www.turku2011.fi
Tom of Finland Foundation In 1984, the non-profit organisation was established by Durk Dehner and his friend Touko Laaksonen (Tom of Finland). As Tom had established worldwide recognition as the master of homoerotic art, the Foundation's original purpose was to preserve his vast catalogue of work. Today the Foundation provides a home to the permanent collection comprising the priceless, very rare and iconic works. The foundation continues in its efforts of educating the public as to the cultural merits of erotic art and in promoting healthier, more tolerant attitudes about sexuality. www.tomoffinlandfoundation.org
Tom Of Finland Touko Laaksonen aka Tom, was born in Finland in 1920. His first commercial gig was drawing half-naked men for Physique Pictorial, a 1950’s homosexual ’fanzine’ disguised as a straight men’s magazine. From the perspective of art historians, Tom had an effect on global culture unmatched by that of virtually any other artist. First seen in commercial settings such as magazine illustration, posters and advertising, his work had a defining impact on the way gay men were perceived and more importantly, how they perceived themselves. Tom had a profound influence on gay culture because he was the first to connect words everyone assumed were oxymorons: Masculinity and homosexuality. In a world that insisted gay men were sissies, Tom did the unthinkable, portraying them as confident& macho Tom lived most of his life in California USA and died in Helsinki in 1991.
Tom Of Finland Retrospective Logomo Exhibition Centre, Turku, Finland Jan 15th - Dec 18th 2011 www.turku2011.fi/tomoffinland
For further information call Homotopia on 0151 702 7369 or 07849 840880
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