HomeTheme and TopicsPapers and PanelsVenuesEventsScheduleFees and RegistrationBiographiesVisiting BristolContact	Kari Laitinen UIAH, Helsinki, Finland Finnish Demonstration       Kari Laitinen has born 1952. Lives and works in Helsinki. His main subject is woodblock printmaking in both western and Japanese techniques. He gives courses continuously with these both methods. He graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in 1980, is a practicing printmaker and has regularly exhibited one-man-shows in Finland since 1982. He has taken part in international Biennials and Triennials in Brazil, Germany, Japan, Slovenia, Switzerland and U.S.A. He has also been regularly represented in exhibitions throughout Europe. He has worked at University of Art and Design Helsinki TaiK since 1985 as a part-time teacher, researcher and lecturer / director School of Visual Culture / Printmaking Studios and Printlab. In 2008 he received 3-years funding from Emil Aaltonen’s Foundation to complete his material research entitled, New Block Material for Japanese Woodblock Printmaking; into finding new block material from Scandinavian wood and to replacing cherry wood for Japanese watercolor woodcuts. The research will be made by co-operation with University of Joensuu, Dept. of Physics and Mathematics; Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences and the team in Kyoto: Keizo Sato, Master Printer, Ukiyo-e Printing Studio, Shoichi Kitamura, Master Carver and printmaker Tuula Moilanen. Kari Laitinen have received honorable mentions at VII Biennale Internationale de la Gravure sur Bois, Banská Bystrica, Czechoslovakia 1982 and Biennale Balticum, Finland 1985. In 1984 he was rewarded with the 2nd  prize at a printmaking competition organized by the State of Finland. His prints are represented at several private and public collections, the Contemporary Art Museum, Ministries and Embassies of Finland, Parliament collections, Bank of Finland. He is one author of the  lecture book The Art and Craft of Woodblock Printmaking, Woodblock Printmaking with Oil-based Inks and the Japanese Watercolor Woodcut; Kari Laitinen, Tuula Moilanen, Antti Tanttu,Publication series of Art and Design Helsinki TaiK, published first in Finnish 1999 and in English 2001. He has held many official positions since 1985, first as a cabinet member and then as a chair the Association of Finnish Printmakers 1990-91; vice chairman at Artists' Association of Finland (AAF) 1988-1989; chair of the board at Taide Art Magazine Publishing Company Ltd., 1990-1991; a member of the State Art Committee 1996-1999; Chair of organizing committee, 2nd IMPACT International Printmaking Conference at the University of Art and Design Helsinki UIAH, 2001; Panel presentation at MAPC-04 Printmaking Conference, University of Nebraska-Lincoln/Mid-American Print Council, 2004;Panel presentation of the summary of conference discussion sessions and member of the IMPACT Committee, IMPACT 4th International Printmaking Conference, Berlin/Poznan, 2005 and Impact 5th in Tallinn, Estonia 2007.