Hanna‑Kaisa
Korolainen

Which place do you currently call home and where do you work on your projects?

I live in Helsinki. My studio is also based here, even though my projects take place all over the world.

Where is your studio located & how does it look?

It is located in a charming neighbourhood with old wooden houses in Kumpula, Helsinki. The studio is housed in a wooden building that I share with other artists. It is usually very messy: I have a large rug frame there, and boxes and rolls of fabric are scattered everywhere. Artworks are constantly being brought back from exhibitions and taken away again—there are glass vases, ceramics and all kinds of yarns lying around.

Are there any projects that are personally important to you—whether recently completed or currently in progress?

Right now, there’s a carpet installation at the Kuopio Museum that I’ve been working on since 2023, and it’s the biggest collection of tufting work I’ve ever shown.

The installation has a living room covered in carpet textiles and a big four-part wall piece. The ensemble refers to Meret Oppenheim’s ‘Luncheon in Fur’ (1936), in which fur radically changed the perceived meaning of an object, and to Harro Koskinen’s ‘Pig Family’ (1969), a gentle critique of bourgeois life.

In the installation, the hairy surface of the carpets transforms familiar objects into something animalistic—almost alive. Hair seems to grow in the ‘wrong’ places, and the untamed nature takes over in a simultaneously endearing, soft, but also slightly nightmarish living room simulation under a furry blanket. Historically, abundant body hair has been associated with witchcraft, dirtiness and excessive sexuality. Even in today’s culture, hair removal and an almost Teflon-like smoothness are mainstream. In this way, humans distinguish themselves from their fellow creatures and deny their own animal nature.

This body of work challenges beauty ideals and traditions in which body hair is seen as improper and in need of removal. It invites you to experience a revolution of hairiness and to acknowledge the animal roots of humanity.

The mural serves as the ‘television replacement’ in this living room—a furry version of the lacquered wisteria works by Japanese master Ogata Kōrin from the Edo period. Surprisingly, one of the four panels features ALF, the title character from the American children’s television series of the 1980s. His frozen figure marks the transition from still image to moving pictures—from slowness to speed. Instead of televisions, the living rooms of 17th- and 18th-century Japan featured lacquered folding screens decorated with painted flowers. Today, the idea of staring at the same image for decades seems absurdly boring.

I am currently working on a 28 m² rya rug entitled ‘Pink Harmony’ for the soon-to-open Virgil Abloh Foundation in Chicago, where a collection of his unique textile and ceramic works will also be on display.

The exhibition will take place in Tokyo in 2026 at EPAZABU.

Do you have a favorite place in your area where you like to relax and linger?

I love being at home or hanging out with my friends, maybe going for long walks and exploring the coast around here or sitting in cafés for hours.

The café I go to most often is definitely Max’s Cafe. It’s a real institution in the area near my home and has a vast and extremely faithful clientele. I love drinking my coffee there, either alone or with friends.

Next to my studio is Café Frangipani, which I also really enjoy going to. For some reason, it’s always full of babies, even though it’s quite small. I think seeing happy babies and their parents just makes me happy (my work is quite lonely), and the cakes, lattes and lunch are delicious.

I like to linger in museums and galleries too, such as EMMA, Ateneum Art Museum, Helsinki Contemporary, Galleria Loisti and Forum Box.

Are there any urgent political issues or problems in your region?

Like many other countries the right wing politics have taken over Finland as well. This has lead to many problems such as in recent years, the gap between the rich and the poor has widened. Racism appears to be increasingly normalised in Finland, and the political climate is largely anti-immigration.

Culture has also been pushed aside and marginalised. Such measures serve to silence free and critical voices in society.

In your opinion, what has developed well in the last 5 years—and what has not?

I think going to the forest and getting your own berries and mushrooms has become more popular, and thats a good thing. I like that this is possible for all of us. We have something called “jokamiehen oikeus“, which means that you don’t need to own a forest to be able to pick food or camp in there.

There is too much construction everywhere, trees have been cut down and nature destroyed. Old buildings and history are quickly being replaced by new ones that are not always well built. There are already many old office buildings that stand empty every day. Why do we need new buildings instead of converting existing ones into flats, schools, etc.?

Do you know a hidden gem when it comes to local manufacturers—whether it’s arts and crafts, sustainable products or food?

For the ceramics Saija Halko, incredibly well-crafted and elegant, her eye for the colour and shapes are wonderful. These can be also found for example in Michelin starred restaurants, and japanese love them. Her ceramics really add luxury to my every day life.

For the furniture (and artworks) a rising star Santeri Mortti. Super well done, an original. Cute mixes with extremely well executed craftmanship. I dream of one day having his pieces in my home.

Then I love antiques, if I cant shop them in Brussels, I might go here: Fasaani Antiikki.

Is there anything particularly innovative in your region? Also in comparison to other places you have already visited?

They have a lot of city allotments/gardens all over Helsinki. I have one of my own and it feels important to keep that connection to the earth.

I like that it is not too crowded. and there is nature and certain kind of wilderness in the city

Do you have a secret restaurant tip that you would like to share with us?

A great sushi take away Sushisan, I mean it is really amazing, they use stuff like local mushrooms. Those who know it, they always come back, it’s a strage little gem in a tiny old shopping centre, lost in the middle of a residential area.

For natural wine and snacks during summers I love Alkuviini, it is hidden in an out door marketplace, and you can meet hip youth mixed with cute old couples, they even have DJs and feeling is lovely

And in the Old Market Hall nearby there is this delicious place: Soup+More and the modern classic Way Bakery.

Is there a local shop whose products are only available in your region?

– Lovely art, design collectible things here: Lokal Gallery
– For candles: Desico
– For baskets (mushroom picking and gardening): Karnaalaiva

What are your 3 favourite apps that you use every day and couldn’t live without?

I dont like digital stuff, so I try to not to use too much, but cant live without

Instagram, Bookbeat and Spotify.

Do you have any favourite newspapers or online magazines? And how do you keep up to date with politics or social and cultural issues?

For the news I check Helsingin Sanomat and Yle. I don’t have television, so just reading those.

When I travel I like to buy magazines, but in my daily life I prefer to read books, and local library, where I can order books, is just the best place! 

The cultural news I mostly find on Instagram and through my vast circle of artist friends, culture is not in newspapers anymore like it used to be in my youth. For example the biggest newspaper published a bunch of art exhibition critics twice a week, and that affected what people would see. This only happens very rarely these days. Contemporary art does not interest, maybe it is the lack of money, it is seen as sth that spends but does not make money or special value. Very sad indeed. These news have been replaced by news about new tv-series and celebrity gossips, I mean why not, but they fill the “cultural section”.

Imagine you could be mayor for a year—what would you change?

I would add more obligatory art and craft education in primary schools. Also about design and materials, so that even young kids would recognize cotton from polyester, even based on a photo. I would also teach them about fashion and quality. And instead of mathematics, I would arrange it so that art and design courses would earn young people the most credit points when applying for higher education.

I would add public art projects and funding for culture—might seem like nothing in the world of hard values, money and power, but it is a real tool for hope, beauty, democracy and a way to imagine better future(s).

I would also make public transport free and restrict car traffic in the centre of Helsinki. People should pay for rubbish collection and compulsory voting should be introduced (I’m not entirely sure about this, but I would like people to take more interest in politics and have a say in our common affairs).

One last question: If you could choose another place to live—regardless of financial or time constrains—which one would you choose?

I guess I’d return to Paris. I lived there for over 8 years, I was working in fashion back then. I really loved living there, I was always walking around and spending so much time with friends and going out, dancing and seeing great gigs. Finally I got tired that everything was always filled with people, crowded and unfunctional. But I still miss it and visit the city regularly. Earlier this year I was teaching the textile students at ENSAD for one week.

When I set foot on the streets of Paris, I don’t have to think about how to get somewhere, my feet just start walking as if they were the veins of my body, and the city sucks me into its rhythm.