Meet Lapinlahti people: Jutta Kivilompolo
We meet Jutta Kivilompolo on the sunny terrace of Café Lähde. She is waiting for me with a cold drink on the table. Behind Jutta there is a huge metal stand that has the 24 artworks chosen by the jury of the Save Lapinlahti with a Poster art contest. It also has Jutta’s beautiful artwork, in which a woman lays in a green park between the cemetery and apartment buildings of Ruoholahti. It got second place in this competition that attracted international interest in order to save Lapinlahti.
Jutta is a freelancer illustrator and visual designer. She previously worked in the IT industry as a visual designer, but then started working as an illustrator on the side and has now been working entirely as a freelancer for five years. She is happy with her choice. Even though it can be a little uncertain at times, there has been plenty of work, and Jutta enjoys being able to set her own schedule.
Jutta got the inspiration for the poster from how she herself experiences Lapinlahti. She wanted to highlight something that is really here. Lapinlahti park has long been a place of relaxation, tranquillity and creativity for her, where she often goes just to stroll and amble about. Especially during the Covid pandemic, Lapinlahti park was her number one place, even though Töölönlahti is closer to her home.
During this spring Jutta has sometimes also worked in Lapinlahti through the Lilith Cooperative. Lilith Cooperative is the largest creative cooperative in Finland, and they have a studio in Lapinlahden Lähde, where they offer work spaces to the cooperative members. Jutta has taken advantage of this opportunity from time to time and found working at “Lappari” to be peaceful and comfortable.
Why did you end up taking part in the competition?
“I got a tip from an old acquaintance, who now works in Lapinlahti. In addition to that, Kuvittajat association advertised this opportunity. I had also just attended a seminar earlier, where we were encouraged to do things outside of work and challenge ourselves. That gave me the impetus to take this seriously, even though I had other work things to do. Pekka Loiri’s participation in the jury was also reassuring and brought a promise that the competition and the jury are professional,” Jutta says.
We start walking around in Lapinlahti, intending to get to know the exhibition operations, but we get a spontaneous invitation to join a relaxing foot bath held by Ilona Rautiainen of the City Nature Centre and her intern Nina. We discuss Jutta’s competition work with the other people who came to the foot bath. The atmosphere is enthusiastic and her piece is a favourite of many. Many people think that Jutta’s piece is good at describing their experience of Lapinlahti as an oasis in the middle of the city.
Because of the summer holidays, Jutta hasn’t had time to receive a lot of feedback on her artwork, and she is touched by how her vision resonates with other people, who also hold Lapinlahti dear. Jennifer Ramirez from the communications team, who was instrumental in organising the poster competition, is excited to ask if the poster could be sold as a print, card, or image on other products. There have been many inquiries regarding the sale of the posters, and it would be great if the works could bring joy to viewers and influence the discussion about Lapinlahti even after the exhibition has closed.
When we discuss future hopes for Lapinlahti, Jutta says she is very satisfied in the activities Lapinlahti currently has. When I ask about points of improvements, she mentions that there could be even more information and, for example, a big sign in front of the main door that tells about the exhibitions and everything that is going on in Lapinlahti. The sign could encourage people to boldly enter. Finns easily assume that you have to spend money if you go somewhere. Jutta thinks it would be good to verbalise that you can only come here to be. One dream is also that the eternal struggle for the future could end and there would be no more fear that this is just temporary.
Lastly, we meet Klaus Welp in the yard, who is the father of the idea of the poster competition and the biggest driving force behind it. He is very happy that Jutta entered the competition. In our discussions, the idea of Jutta’s own exhibition in Lapinlahti in the future also comes up. Let’s hope so, because her skillful handiwork brings us a lot of joy and inspiration.
The works from the Save Lapinlahti with a Poster poster exhibition will be on sale next year.
Ps. You can go look at Jutta’s web page at juttakivilompolo.com.
Photos and original text: Annina Loimu