photo Simon Beckmann

Joya: AiR / Helmi Liikanen / FIN

“Seven A2 arcs of “better paper”, some pencils and sketch books. A packet of dry pastels which I had hand-picked in Helsinki trying to imagine how the colours of mid-July Spanish mountains would be like. I arrived to Joya: AiR with minimum tools that would allow me to shift into the mood of creative exploration and curiosity.

Joya: AiR has an honest beauty to its architecture, it is a space adapted to the climate and the history of the location. Maybe this made it easier to step into a dream of truthfully following one’s intuition in the daily work and enjoyment. After the day’s work everyone gathered to share thoughts over the dinner. The people I met and the moments spent together under the scorching sun and the stars ended up forming a big part of my experience.

During my stay I gained some clarity and trust in my creative vision. I regard the body as a thinking entity and the act of making as thinking. This has a lot to do with my background in hand-crafting (and in my love of Juhani Pallasmaa’s books). Sensing my environment and releasing my thoughts and observations in tactile and visual ways is in the core of my practice - be it designing fabrics or drawing or collaging.

The shapes that I “carved” on the paper while in Joya: AiR ended up resembling the mountains, the sun and the moon. The elements connecting to each other in a continuous dance of night and day.

I thank Donna and Simon and each and every one I met during my stay. You made it unforgettable.

-Helmi

Helmi Liikanen is a textile designer and artist living in Helsinki, Finland. In 2019 she graduated with MA degree in Textile design from Aalto University School of Art Design and Architecture. Her designs have been frequently featured in collections of Finnish weaving mill Lapuan Kankurit. Currently she works as a Technical designer at the lifestyle brand and printing house Marimekko, which she combines with her artistic activities.