Graphica Creativa is the oldest international print exhibition in the Nordic countries. It is arranged in Jyväskylä, Finland every third year. The first Graphica Creativa took place in 1975. The purpose of the exhibition is to raise the standard and value of printmaking, to launch and promote printmaking itself and to increase the interest in printmaking in Finland. The next Graphica Creativa exhibition will be held in Summer 2009.

Thanks to Graphica Creativa Jyväskylä has become a centre of printmaking. To carry out the project an association called The Graphica Creativa Society was formed in the 1970’s, and since then it has managed to make printmaking more known. Founded in 1978 The Centre for Printmaking offers working space to printmakers and arranges varying print exhibitions. The collection of The Association of Finnish Printmakers, which today contains nearly 4800 prints, was placed permanently in Jyväskylä in 1981.

Graphica Creativa '05

8.7. - 2.10.2005
30 Years Anniversary Exhibition

SUOJA, Kilpisenkatu 8
Finnish Open
- Open print competition for Finnish printmakers
The chosen artists of the exhibition

The Finnish Open exhibition presents the latest production of 39 Finnish graphic artists. The jury consisting of printmakers Virve Lilja, Jyrki Markkanen, Vappu Johansson and head curator of Jyväskylä Art Museum Jukka Partanen selected the participants among 192 artists.

There are noted artists as well as novices taking part in this exhibition. Their works show a variety of versatile techniques and styles. The main themes deal with relationship chains and games, trips and everyday life, humour, rootlessness, peace and the beauty of human body.

An international prize jury chooses the receivers of Graphica Creativa awards. The decisions will be announced at the exhibition reception on the 7th of July 2005.

First Prize: Eeva Tiisala
Eeva Tiisala has created a maximum effect with minimal use of materials, colour and technique.
Simple and often seemingly whimsical marks and cuts within the white space give the works a strong and expressive presence.
Themes invisaged evoke an honest message of contemporary society and social concerns that are relevant to us all.

Second prize: Anne Tamminen
Anne´s works express a mystic atmosphere found in a deserted city scape of strong monochromatic contrast. This feeling of unseen human presense and melancholic silence generates an indepth exchange and inner reflection between the image & viewer.

Third prize: Hanna Oinonen
Hanna’s work reflects a child’s ideas and fantasies and then transports them into our present context. The installation makes us reflect our past and current expectations within the reality of our present situation. Hanna’s work shows us human nature with a humorous and playful honesty.

The honourable mentions:
Heli Kurunsaari
Hanna Tammi
Jokke Saharinen




HOLVI, Kauppakatu 23
After All These Years
- International Invitational Exhibition
The invited artists of the exhibition

The Holvi premises host an exhibition titled After All These Years. The exhibition brings together nine international artists whose participation in the past triennials were memorable. Thus sentiments of nostalgia and joy of reunion can be expected. Many of the featured artists are today quite elderly, but active in their artistic work.

Holvi also serves as an arena dedicated to masters. Such artists as Norman Ackroyd, Jiri Anderle, Tetsuya Noda and P.G. Thelander are pioneers of print arts in their own countries. The viewpoint of a true cosmopolitan is represented by Australian Wayne Crothers living in Tokyo, Polish Berenika Boberska currently working in Los Angeles, and Argentinean Liliana Porter who has lived in New York for a long while. Instead, strong roots and a powerful connection to their own native culture are manifested in the works of Japanese Ryoji Ikeda and Cuban Sandra Ramos.



Special exhibitions:

Musem of Central Finland, Alvar Aallonkatu 7
7 - A View from the North

7 – A View from the North consists of the works by seven Nordic female printmakers. Johanna Boga and Valgerdur Hauksdottir from Iceland, Outi Heiskanen and Ulla Virta from Finland, Helmtrud Nyström and Ulla Fries from Sweden and Sonja Krohn from Norway are all internationally well-known and recognized artists.

The members of the group share a strong interest in foreign cultures. They have travelled in different continents and sought inspiration from native cultures as from their own Nordic roots. They have similar backrounds in fine art printmaking, but each artists approach has developed in different original directions.

7 – A View from the North has earlier been exhibited in the summer of 2004 in The Nordic House in Reykjavik, Iceland.



HARMONIA, Hannikaisenkatu 39
The Young Ones

Galleria Harmonia presents the works of Graphica Creativa´s young ones. These Finnish art students come from Imatra, Joensuu, Lahti, Turku and Uusikaarlepyy. During the exhibition the students will also take part in a week-long printmaking course with printmaker Sandra Ramos as their teacher.



Nonstop print workshop at Holvi, Kauppakatu 23

8.7.-14.8. Tue-Sun at 12-17

15.8.-2.10. Sat-Sun at 12-17

Workshop fee 3 €