Taina Kokkonen

Basic information

Graphic Artist/Printmaker

Contact information

Phone number: +358 (0)50 33 68 260

Artist’s Statement

I mainly work with color woodcuts, but sometimes with monotype and lino cut techniques as well. I like to use a lot of colors, which I print as thick layers rendering one wood-plate printing technique. I don't destroy old plates, because after many years I may use them again as a part of some new work. I print unique works or at least very small editions. In this way, I don't get bored of the monotonous stages of printing. I print variations of the same theme - usually one of them goes to an exhibition and the rest to the store.

Woodcut as a technique has come natural to me because I have been living in many places and working in many studios where it wasn't possible to use a printing press. That's why I always print my works by hand.

I get subjects for my prints from nature and nature observations. In my prints nature manifests its abstract, ornamental color and form world, where sometimes even human figures appear. Those figures seem to be wondering the sometimes absurd and sometimes peaceful course of nature.
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Bio

Taina Kokkonen was born in Kajaani, Finland, in 1960. She finished Kankaanpää Art School in 1983. She holds MA degree in Art History from the University of Jyväskyla 1992. Member of the Association of Finnish Printmakers, the Helsinki Artists Association and the Kajaani Artists Association. Since 1988 Taina Kokkonen had several solo exhibitions. She has also presented her work at numerous Finnish and international group exhibitions. Her works are to find in various public and private collections.