Aimo Katajamäki

Aimo Katajamäki is an artist, illustrator, and graphic designer. His typical techniques include wood carving, ceramics, and metal block printing. In recent years he has become renowned for his superhero wood sculptures, which depict human nature in a subtle and delicate way. His sculptures exude delightful, pitch-black comedy. They borrow their imagery from pop culture, the animal kingdom, and the afterlife. His skull characters, which have a human and frail aspect, highlight the importance of the here and now, and the transience of life. Katajamäki’s award-winning sculpture, “Wood People,” can be seen in the foyer of Little Parliament, Helsinki.

Aimo Katajamäki

Katajamäki has collaborated with several architects to create murals. His work adorns the facades of The National Archives of Finland building in Hämeenlinna, and the Savonlinna Municipal Library. In 2013 Katajamäki and his spouse, interior architect Päivi Meuronen, were awarded the Finnish State Prize for Design for a collaboration project. The project combined interior design and fine art in Seinäjoki Library, the Finnish Pavilion “Kirnu” (“Giant’s Kettle”) at Shanghai World Expo 2010 and other public spaces, particularly those designed by the JKMM Architects.

“I don’t separate applied art from fine art. In my case, they can almost have the same form. Graphic works are like dragonflies, living only a moment. Usually, the sustainability of visual design is only evident with the passing of time. As an individual designer, I find it quite difficult to pay attention to sustainability in the industrial process of producing graphic design.”