This project is a collection of posters featuring my illustrations that capture the experiences of my life with my husband after we moved to Finland. It is a visual diary that is both heartfelt and humorous.
Rather than focusing on the difficulties of immigration, I chose to highlight the everyday moments of our new life in Finland. From our first sauna experience to the ongoing battle of cleaning hair out of the shower drain, these illustrations depict the small moments that make up our daily routine. There are playful unexpected things, such as my husband’s newfound obsession with birdwatching. Finland just has turned him into an amateur ornithologist. Such little things make life both challenging and delightful, and I want to share them with everyone.
While immigration can be tough mentally, it’s also an incredible opportunity to step into a new world full of fresh experiences, from mastering unfamiliar household chores and experimenting with new cuisines to forming new habits and discovering hidden joys in a new environment.
Through my illustrations, I aim to show that even in the midst of change and adaptation, there are always reasons to smile and find joy and fun in the unexpected. This exhibition is not just about my personal story, it’s about finding humour and light in the everyday, no matter where life takes you.
About The Artist
I am an illustrator specializing in digital-based visual methods. Over more than ten years as an illustrator, I’ve undertaken various projects, ranging from standard commissions as book illustrations and posters for music festivals to unconventional tasks such as creating illustrations for a avant-garde space-themed carpet.
Two and a half years ago, I relocated from Russia to Finland. Despite my focus on learning Finnish, I continued my passion for illustration and created illustrations reflecting our new life in this northern country. As part of the integration course, I undertook a 6-week internship at Napa Agency, an illustration agency in Finland. I assisted in preparations for a two-day event during the Helsinki Design Week, designing promotional materials for the agency’s social media and website.
As part of a design course at Laurea University, I also created illustrations for ideation cards for a real project at XAMK University, that offers Future Thinking courses for micro and small businesses. My recent project involves creating a lot of sketched illustrations and animating them for 7 video for an international project. The project entails an album of lullabies in 7 different languages, featuring musicians from various countries including the UK, Georgia, Belarus, Spain, Russia, Canada, and the Czech Republic.
I volunteer at Helsinki Creative Morning, the event, which takes place once a month at the Helsinki Design Museum, gathers creative speakers and individuals together, sharing positive emotions. I produce illustrations to introduce volunteers and partners to the audience.
For me, as an illustrator, the relocation has been a time of refreshing and modernizing my creativity. When creating illustrations, I strive to reflect the diversity and inclusivity of society. I believe that art has the power to inspire, unite, and foster understanding, and I am grateful to use my talent to support values of Finnish society.
Featured Artworks
- Cheer up!, 2023
- So many rabbits on the streets in Finland, 2022
- Sock angel, 2023
- Sauna time, 2021
- Birdwatching, 2023
- Is this a winter jacket or a baguette?, 2021
- Northern lights, 2023
- Everyone blooms in spring in Finland, 2024
- Hair Monster, 2023
- New haircut, 2023
IG: @artktika
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user201710721
https://www.behance.net/mezinainlo2dbb