CAPTURING THE UNSEEN WITH ANNA JULKUNEN

INTRODUCTION

At COMA, we have the privilege of connecting with artists who push the boundaries of contemporary and emerging art. This time, we had the pleasure of interviewing Anna Julkunen, a Finnish photographic artist whose work delves into the realms of dreams, mythology, and spiritual inheritance. Anna’s practice is a fascinating blend of photography and artistic research, where she explores the connections between personal and collective memory, mythological symbols, and cultural preservation. In this conversation, Anna shares insights into her artistic journey, the influences that shape her work, and her vision for the future of contemporary art.

The following interview has been edited and condensed.

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BACKGROUND AND EDUCATION

COMA: Can you tell us about your early life and what led you to pursue visual arts?

Anna: I’ve always been drawn to creating, and early on, I was really into drawing. But drawing never quite satisfied my need for creating and would often leave me frustrated. Once in high school, I took a photography class and fell in love with it. Still, I didn’t think art was something I could pursue as more than a hobby until I saw the Araki exhibition at Kulturhuset in Stockholm. That’s when I realized photography could be an art form. After that, I started pursuing the visual arts more seriously.

COMA: What was your experience like at HDK-Valand while earning your Master’s in Fine Art Photography?

Anna: I loved every second of it. I was really lucky to be in a class full of amazing people. I felt like I was able to experiment and further my creative processes while getting valuable feedback, not only from my teachers but from my peers as well.

COMA: How did your education shape your approach to photography and other artistic mediums?

Anna: For a long time now, I’ve been interested in the incorporation of a research aspect when it comes to art. This was something that was heightened during my Master’s and is something that I continue to incorporate into my work to this day.

ARTISTIC JOURNEY AND INFLUENCES

COMA: How has your work evolved over the years since you graduated?

Anna: I’d say it’s still similar in many ways since I work around the same themes as during my Master’s. But I feel like I’m now more interested in how my art translates and can be heightened in a gallery space. I’m very keen on building little worlds, beyond just working with material on my computer screen.

COMA: What have been some pivotal moments or projects in your career?

Anna: Working as a technician for almost two years at an art gallery has had a huge impact on how I view art and how creative you can get with a space. The artist book I made during my Master’s is still something I’m incredibly proud of. The theme of the book—dreams—continues to influence my current artistic practice and probably will for a long time.

COMA: Which artists or photographers do you admire or consider as mentors?

Anna: I admire Rinko Kawauchi. Her way of capturing light in her photographs is something that always inspires me.

COMA: Are there any specific works of art or artistic movements that have significantly influenced your style and approach?

Anna: I’m heavily influenced by the video game industry, particularly the atmosphere in games like Final Fantasy or Elden Ring, as well as painters like Goya.

EXPLORING “ILMATAR”

COMA: Can you describe the inspiration and process behind “Ilmatar”?

Anna: For this piece, I was inspired by a dream I had of an egg cracking. It made me think of the story of Ilmatar, the goddess in Finnish mythology who created the earth. She bathes in primordial waters, and a scaup lays an egg on her knee. Out of the egg are born the sun, the earth, the heavens, the moon, and the stars.

COMA: What themes or messages were you aiming to convey through this piece?

Anna: Something as simple as having a dream of an egg cracking can make you remember something that has been passed down for generations and how stories like that connect all of us.

COMA: What materials and techniques did you use for “Ilmatar”? How did you decide on these?

Anna: I’ve always worked with digital photography, and this hasn’t changed to this day. However, I treat my digital camera a lot like an analog one, in the sense that I have to let the pictures “develop,” meaning I don’t look at them right away. How long this takes is always different; sometimes, it might be as long as a year. It was no different for “Ilmatar.”

THEMES IN YOUR WORK

COMA: You’ve kept a record of your dreams to learn more about interpreting them through symbols in Finnish mythology. What sparked this interest?

Anna: Our family has had this tradition of always talking about dreams first thing in the morning and the meanings behind them. When I started looking more into dream interpretation, I noticed similarities between what I read and what we discussed in the mornings.

COMA: How do you incorporate these dream records and mythological symbols into your work?

Anna: It’s subtle, with the use of text, symbolic imagery, and different shapes. I never want to be too “on the nose” with my work.

COMA: Your artistic practice focuses on documenting and preserving one’s spiritual inheritance. Can you elaborate on what this means to you?

Anna: For me, it means keeping a record of my dreams, practicing tarot reading for myself, and doing spell work as needed.

COMA: How do you see photography and artistic research contributing to this documentation and preservation?

Anna: I think photography and artistic research can be wonderful tools not only for preservation but also for sharing and connecting with others over something that is very much ingrained in all of us.

FUTURE PROJECTS AND VISION

COMA: Are there any upcoming projects or themes you are currently exploring or planning to work on?

Anna: I’m currently working on a collaborative book with two of my lovely friends, and I’m beyond excited to see the outcome of our cooperative efforts. In September, I’ll be holding a workshop focused on spiritual inheritance and Finnish identity. I’m excited to meet everyone and learn how they want to use art to preserve their inheritance.

COMA: How do you see your work evolving in the future?

Anna: I’m hoping this is something I can continue for a long time. I want to start researching more into the concept of the collective unconscious and whether dreams are something we inherit, particularly the symbols we see and how we interpret them.

COMA: What are your thoughts on the current state of contemporary art, particularly in photography and multimedia art?

Anna: I feel like it’s slowly but surely getting the recognition it deserves.

COMA: How do you see the role of photography and multimedia art evolving in addressing spiritual and cultural themes?

Anna: I feel that multimedia art and photography have increasingly included stories around these themes and are preserving them, whether through fictional stories or real ones.

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Stay tuned for more artist interviews and insights into our ongoing exhibition, “Beyond the Hill.” Visit our website and Instagram for the latest updates and to explore the incredible work of emerging artists like Anna Julkunen.

August, 2024 - COMA Editorial team