In Eno, near Joensuu in North Karelia, you’ll find the Myllyaho log studio, where textile artist and craft person Kerttu Ahlholm works. Right now, she is working on a linen art project in which she grows her own material and transforms it from start to finish into woven textile works.
On the day of our interview in early April, Kerttu was spinning. After several stages of work, earlier this spring, she was able to do scutching outdoors, a stage of the process in which flax fibers are pulled through a metal-bladed scutcher to separate the pieces of the flax shives from the fibers. After that, the bundle of fibers is cleaned again with a hackle and combed so that only the finest flax fibers remain. These can then be spun into yarn and eventually woven into fabric. It seems incredible to think that this project actually began last spring in May, during the flowering season of the bird cherry tree, when the flax seeds were sown in the warming soil. Processing flax is certainly no quick fix!
Kerttu graduated from Metropolia University of Applied Sciences in Helsinki in 2023. She also lived in the north for a while, but her heart drew her back to the landscapes of her childhood. Working in the peace of the countryside, surrounded by nature, both inspires her and provides materials for her art; Kerttu strives to use natural raw materials and sustainable, self-sufficient methods to create art.
- This feels like home, and this is where creativity flourishes best, Kerttu says. This nature and tranquility are also reflected in my design language.
Although working by hand is now an essential part of Kerttu’s artistic practice, crafts have not always been at the center of her work. Back in the day, during the early stages of her studies, she was more interested in the fashion industry and pattern design. However, an exchange program in Tartu changed her direction when, during her hands-on studies, she got to try weaving and saw how it could be used to create art. That’s when her passion for art—and weaving in particular—was ignited. The enthusiasm for weaving has sparked broader interest in handicrafts.
Right now, the textile artist is inspired by spring and the beginning of new life. Soon she’ll be able to start growing flax again, and next month she plans to begin the weaving phase of her work. Kerttu is already planning the preparation of the warps. She doesn’t usually sketch out her work in advance, although she does have a subtle visual idea of what it will look like. Weaving and other craft techniques form the foundation of her work, to which she likes to add something new, such as three-dimensionality and a garment-like quality. Usually, as the work progresses, it becomes clear in which direction it is beginning to take shape. Kerttu hopes that the entire journey will be reflected in the final result, even though she doesn’t yet know how it will manifest itself.
When reflecting on the challenges of artistic work, Kerttu mentions time management. It can be difficult to separate work from the rest of life, especially when working from home. However, routines and hobbies help with this. Time and the slow pace of the process, however, play a major role in Kerttu’s work. She feels she used to be quite impatient, and working on long-term projects has at times been challenging. “My enthusiasm for creating art in a self-sufficient and sustainable way is what ultimately drew me into the world of flax,” Kerttu reflects. She wants to increase appreciation for slow techniques, creating a counterbalance to fast production and manufacturing.
- It has been very rewarding to learn old traditional skills and be part of their continuity, she continues.
She also wants to share this joy with others: plans are underway for a community flax field and a flax-themed event in Eno, as well as spinning workshops in Joensuu.
Kerttu wanted to participate in Konstrundan because she has found visiting other artists’ studios to be interesting and inspiring, and she wants to give others the same opportunity. Kerttu hopes that many people will find their way to her studio during Konstrundan. The forest, rural setting and sheeps can be a refreshing experience for many. At the log studio in Myllyaho, visitors can learn about spinning and working with vertical looms, among other things. “It’s interesting to hear how people view my new work; I’m really looking forward to the conversations—they can be so rewarding for both sides,” Kerttu says of her hopes for the Konstrundan weekend.
- And perhaps seeing different techniques will spark an interest in crafts and serve as inspiration for how they can be utilized in art through various creative means!