Continuing to promote the very best of comics from around the world, the Lakes International Comic Art Festival is delighted to confirm the return of top Finnish creators Johanna Rojola and Petteri Tikkanen to this year’s event in October in Kendal.
In fact, the Festival is so pleased they are creating a Finnish Village at Kendal College to celebrate the very best of all things Nordic, including the Moomins, over the weekend long event.
The Moomins also look set to take over many of the town’s shop windows as part of this year’s “Windows Trail”, many of the displays created by local schoolchildren, some working with comic creators from around Britain.
Grab your towel and immerse yourself in all things Finnish as LICAF showcase the best of current Finnish comics; pay homage via commissions, exhibitions and films to the life and work of internationally-renowned artist Tove Jansson (creator of the Moomins) and provide a taster of the ultimate Finnish experience the wood-fired sauna.
The equivalent of Britian’s Comics Laureate in Finland, Johanna Rojola is one of the country’s leading comic artists and featured as part of our 2017 celebration of art and comic art in Finland.
A comic art rock star in Finland in every sense Petteri Tikkanen (who we interviewed recently) is a universe all of his own. Gorgeous drawings, great narratives and his transformation into alter ego Black Peider – and make him irresistible…
Along with opportunities to meet both of the visiting comic artists, Kendal will host three exhibitions; Tales from a Nordic Archipelago, a documentary photographic exhibition on the life of Tove Jansson, creator of the world-famous Moomins, at Kendal Museum; Archipelagogo, a newly commissioned multi-media exhibition by Jonathan Edwards and Felt Mistress with soundtrack by Andy Votel to celebrate the work of Tove Jansson, at the Wildman Gallery; and Finnish Comics Now: an exhibition of digital prints of new Finnish Comics, organised by the Finnish Comics Society in the Wildman Performance Space.
“We were delighted by the reception our Finnish guests had last year and we’re thrilled to continue our relationship this year,” says Festival Director Julie Tait.
Petteri, also known as YouTube phenomenon Black Peider, is delighted to be returning to Kendal this year.
“The place was nice and the feeling of the festival was cozy,” he enthuses. “Festivals like this make me feel that I am part of something bigger. I am not alone in the world with my little books!”
The Finnish Village is brought to LICAF 2017 in partnership with the Finnish Institute and the Finnish Comics Society, Compass Live Art and Arts Council England and is sponsored by Moomin.
• Read a new interview with Petteri Tikkanen about creating comics on the Festival web site
• The full programme of events is now live on the Festival web site, along with details about its new Weekend Pass.
• Buy your tickets for the fifth Lakes International Comic Art Festival here
• For all events information visit the Lakes International Comic Art Festival web site: www.comicartfestival.com | Find the Lakes International Comic Art Festival on Facebook | Follow the Festival on Twitter @comicartfest
Finnish Exhibitions at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival 2017
Tales from a Nordic Archipelago: a documentary photographic exhibition on the life of Tove Jansson
Opens Tuesday 3rd October and runs until Thursday 2nd November 2017 at Kendal Museum
During the Festival the exhibition is open on Saturday 14th October from 9.00am – 5.00pm and on Sunday 15th October from 10.00am – 4.00pm. Admission free to festival passholders | £2 entrance for non-passholders Outside the Festival the exhibition is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9.30am – 5.00pm. £2 museum entrance
Archipelagogo
Opens Tuesday 3rd October and runs until Saturday 4th November at The Wildman Gallery
A newly commissioned multi-media exhibition by Jonathan Edwards & Felt Mistress with soundtrack by Andy Votel to celebrate the work of Tove Jansson
During the Festival the exhibition is open on Saturday 14th October from 9.00am – 5.00pm and on Sunday 15th October from 10.00am – 4.00pm. Admission free to festival passholders | £2 entrance for non-passholders Outside the Festival the exhibition is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 9.30am – 5.00pm. Free
Finnish Comics Now: an exhibition of digital prints of new Finnish Comics
Organised by the Finnish Comics Society, offer a glimpse of the colourful, strange and surreal visions of Finnish comic artists
Open on Saturday 14th October from 9.00am – 5.00pm and on Sunday 15th October, from 10.00am – 4.00pm, The Wildman Performance Space. Admission free for all
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Events