Have you heard of Rongoteus or Ägräs?

Miila Westin’s exhibition of Finnish mythical beings is part of her Master of Arts thesis in Aalto University. While researching the Finnish ancient religion the illustrator noticed how abundantly there were myths and stories which were not a part of the national epic of Karelia and Finland, The Kalevala. In her research, Westin considered whether the illustrations of myths need to informative, or whether the artists can interpret the subject freely. She came to a conclusion that new interpretations keep the ancient myths alive and remembered. Westin’s illustrations do not reflect how the Finnish mythical beings may have been imagined in ancient times, but instead how the illustrator herself wants to see them.

Miila Westin: Mythical
1.2.–13.2.2022
Opening hours: 11:00–18:00 (11:00-15:00 on the last day of the exhibition)
ars gallery, 5-13-1 Jingumae Shibuya-ku Tokyo 150-0001
Gallery closed on Mondays.
Free entrance.

Miila Westin (b. 1987) is a Finnish illustrator living and working in Helsinki, Finland. She works on various types of illustration projects ranging from character design and editorial illustrations to pattern design and books. She especially enjoys visualizing imaginary creatures and dreamy environments. Westin has illustrated Radio Popov, the winning book of The Finlandia Junior Price (2020). Westin is also a board member of The Finnish Illustrators Association.
Westin graduated as Master of Arts in Visual Narrative (Visual Communication Design) in 2020 from Aalto University of Arts and Design. The topic of her thesis was about the visualizations of Finnish mythical beings.

Photo:
Miila Westin: Hiisi (2020)