Veikko Vionoja

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He is one of the best know Finnish painters of this century. We will celebrate his 90th birthday in 1999.

The reason why Professor Veikko Vionoja is introduced here is that he is my fathers brother. From the 50's on in almost every summer Veikko and my father Voitto used to paint together for many days. They visited small villages in Ilmajoki, Kannus and Ylistaro - places where they could find old farmyards with clusters of wooden buildings like two-storey farmhouses, barns, sheds, saunas, cowhouses and stables.

I remember a warm summerday in the late 50's in Ilmajoki when I was allowed to follow the brothers in their painting journey. My important task was to carry coffee, milk, sugar and sandwiches in a small bag. It was quite a long day for a young boy! However, that day did teach me many aspects of the life and work of an artist. Especially the patience.

During the years Veikko with his life and art has teached me a lot about the warm, creative forces hidden deep in our souls. Still his ingenuity and creativity is a big mystery to me. His paintings and drawings are not just paintings and drawings. They carry a very unique atmosphere. Where ever I see his works I have to stop to taste the power of his expression and those warm, peaceful feelings his art evokes.

Veikko Vionoja 1939

This painting is an interior of Veikko's and Voitto's mothers home in Ullava. The place is called Vio and during the years when Veikko studied art and painting at Ateneum (Academy of Fine Arts) in Helsinki he changed the quite common Finnish name Laine to Vionoja. Thus Vio in his name comes from the name of his mothers home place. (Ateneum is known to day as The Museum of Finnish Art. The permanent collection of the museum includes some paintings and drawings by Veikko Vionoja, too.)

Voitto paints in Veikko's house in Haapala village of Ullava. Veikko Vionoja 1982.

To day the place is owned by the Vionoja Foundation. During summertime the place with a changing exhibition is open for visitors.

Read more about Veikko Vionoja (in Finnish) and see some of his works here: Taide Vionoja.