The Dark and Divine in Finnish Mythology
- Tero Porthan
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
Interview with Tero Porthan
1. Please tell us something about your background and your art journey so far.
I’ve been drawing and painting my whole life. When I was very young, I remember waking up from a dream and immediately grabbing a paper or going to a canvas and painting the dream. Darker themes have always fascinated me: punk rock and underground comics of the 70’s, heavy metal with its imagery and Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings with the eternal battle between light and darkness. I‘ve studied graphic design and worked in animation, 3D, illustration, graphic and web design but found my calling in illustrating Finnish mythology with its gods of death, divinities of nature, mythical animals and supernatural creatures. This magical world is an endless treasure trove of inspiration, and my aim is to make this unique folklore known worldwide.
2. Describe what a normal day looks like as an artist.
I’m an early bird, and it’s not uncommon for me to make my first sketches alongside with my morning coffee. I have the pleasure of working with my wife, writer and researcher Tiina Porthan, and during the coffee we are already fully immersed in throwing ideas, discussing old poems and tales we‘ve read and planning which themes of mythology could be made into pictures. We usually have many projects active at the same time, so my day can include preparing exhibitions, creating new works and working on our Finnish mythology books. We publish regularly and always have a book in process, so at least a part of a day goes to planning and making layouts for the book design.
3. Can you tell us more about the theme in your art and your inspiration?
My inspiration comes from ancient Finnish mythology: gods and goddesses of death and nature, magical animals, mythical creatures, epic tales and stories. These myths survived as oral tradition through generations and open a world at the same time strange and familiar. With my art, I aim to show that these myths can still speak to us in the modern times and that the themes are universal. Finnish mythology seeks to explain the world and its phenomena in an original way, answering to questions like how diseases were born and how to remove suffering. Animals were created by divine beings, forests are governed by gods that can be benevolent but also raise their wrath. I want to bring these beings to life, show them in flesh and blood to convey their power, strength and aura.
4. Is the artist life lonely? Please share your thoughts and experiences.
I’m lucky to be able to work with my wife Tiina Porthan in close collaboration, so I always have someone to share ideas with. Each of our books focuses on a specific theme, so there is a lot of discussing and planning: The Finnish Book of the Dead is about the underworld and gods of death, Women of Might and Magic showcases the goddesses, witches and other female characters from mythology, The Finnish Book of Spells dives into the ancient magic system, and The Finnish Book of Beasts presents the mythical animals. Even though the exact moment of creating an artwork is a lonely moment, I never have to feel lonely, due to this collaboration.
5. What are you working on at the moment and are there any upcoming events you would like to talk about?
I have two exhibitions in Finland with another Finnish mythology artist in unique milieus: an old manor in Anjala and a space in Strömfors Ironworks, both venues from the 17th century, wonderful settings for showcasing mythical art. The exhibitions explore the opposing themes of mythology: light and dark, life and death, gods of death and guardians of nature. Another project is a paperback book Finnish Mythology: Introduction to Myths, Gods and Legends that gives an overview of Finnish gods and tales, including an e-book edition that will be published too. I have another exhibition upcoming, as well as features in art magazines and the launch of an art collective Modern Digital Collective.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teroporthan
Website: https://teroporthan.wordpress.com/
