Saimaa is calling you by Yuta Ikeya

Originally published 2019

Finalist in the travel poster contest My Finland Poster 2019

The artist presents his artwork:

The poster is largely inspired by my experience on a lake behind a student dormitory during my student life in Stockholm. Winter in Scandinavian countries may be regarded as a cold and dark season which is not very appreciated generally, however, there is warmth in talking with your friends in candlelight, by a fireplace or perhaps in a sauna. I wanted to capture this warmth in the winter yet expressing the climate with the joy of a typical winter activity on the lake. As I adore the imperfection of hand-drawn lines, most of the elements in the poster were drawn on paper, then scanned and digitally colored.

Surely travel posters can’t simply remain a cry from the past?

Absolutely not. We live in a completely visual world where the picture is stronger than ever. That’s why the following question hit us: How would contemporary artists depict Finland of today?

We could not let that thought go, so since 2016 we continuously arrange international travel poster contests and we’ve also asked specific graphic designers and artists to create new Finnish travel posters for us.

So now Finland once again attracts travellers with glamour and cries of joy from paradise.
With the help of the travel poster!

Check out over 200 classic Finnish travel posters and read more about all the great Finnish poster artists in the digital version of our book ”Come to Finland” (found in three different editions; in English, French and German). After enjoying the posters a while we believe you are ready to order the real thing: the printed coffee table book.

GOTTA HAVE! GOTTA READ!