Tuula Moilanen

Basic information

b. 1959, Kuopio
Graphic Artist/Printmaker
Residence: Helsinki

Contact information

Artist’s Statement

Tuula's works are based on old stories, myths and mysteries of various origins. Her works are mainly waterbased woodblock prints, made with traditional Japanese printing techniques. Along with printmaking she has been experimenting with acrylic painting, pastel drawing and calligraphy, which she employs also in her handmade artist books. Tuula’s trademarks in prints and paintings are bright and joyful colors and various technically demanding bokashi-gradations.

Tuula has held several solo and group exhibitions in Finland since 1980 and in Japan since 1990. She has also participated in many group exhibitions in Europe, USA and Canada. As well as being a professional artist, Tuula Moilanen is an active writer who has published books and articles about Japanese art and culture since 1995. Among her writings is the chapter on Japanese woodblock printing in The Art and Craft of Woodblock printmaking (UIAH 2001).
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Bio

Printmaker and book artist Tuula Moilanen was born in Finland 1959. She is a member of The Finnish Printmakers Association and The Finnish Woodcut Artists Society.

After finishing her art studies in Finland 1989, Tuula became a research student in Japanese traditional woodblock printmaking and papermaking at Kyoto Seika University in Japan. Since then Tuula lived in Kyoto over 20 years. She moved to Helsinki in 2012.

Tuula's works are based on old stories, myths and mysteries of various origins. Another source of her inspiration is the Nature, starting from the microcosmos to the vastness of space. In 2008-2012 Tuula was inspired by the old Japanese ukiyo-e prints and produced series of prints, which lean on their themes and composition.

Tuula has held several solo and group exhibitions in Finland since 1980 and in Japan since 1990. She has also participated in many group exhibitions in Europe, USA and Canada. She is also an active writer, who has published books and articles about Japanese art and culture since 1995. Among her writings is the chapter of the Japanese woodblock printing in The Art and Craft of Woodblock printmaking (UIAH 1999). Her latest research concerning The concept of Time and Eternity in Japanese woodblock prints was published in Finland in 2013.