Durk Dehner: guardian of Tom of Finland’s legacy

Durk Dehner, president and cofounder of Tom of Finland Foundation, and more recently Knight of the Order of the Lion of Finland, on finding the meaning of life by working for the Finnish artist and his legacy.

Culturalist: Hi, Durk! Or after you received a knighthood in Finland, should I call you “Sir Durk”?

Durk Dehner: No, you don’t have to call me “sir”. But it sounds good. And this title is very touching and honorable for me. Tom has not been with us for 30 years. I promised him that he would not be forgotten, that I would embed his art into both popular and Finnish culture. And he, like Tove Jansson, would be an intricate part of people’s knowledge about Finnish art. I still keep my word. So this award is a recognition for me personally, but also of course for Tom. Those people who once wanted to brush him off as not important will now have to think twice, because this time the government has honoured me. And then they will think, “Since they are honouring him for what he has done for Finland, we should reconsider who this Tom of Finland artist is and what he is.”

CL: The exhibition, TOM OF FINLAND Bold Journey, runs for six months at Kiasma and is the largest survey of the artist’s work to date. What was it like for you personally to be at its opening? 

DD: I have wanted this exhibition for ten years. It was then that we started our relationship with Kiasma. Every year I reminded the museum directors and curators that it would be great to honour Tom’s memory. Finally, they agreed, set a date and we started assembling works.

CL: I have been to the exhibition several times, even made small tours for my friends who came from different cities and countries. And I remember how one of my friends, who at first knew nothing at all about Tom’s work, even let out a tear at one point.

DD: What was it about Tom’s work that made them feel that way? I tend to think it was a sense of freedom. Freedom to create, freedom of expression, the ability to show affection and sexuality without inhibitions. Many other artists have followed him and his work, not because they are Gay (they may not be Gay), but because they recognize that he was able to change the way Gay people viewed themselves and the way heterosexual people viewed Gay people. And in doing so he changed culture, at least western culture. Of course, in many areas, and certainly in some countries, there is still hatred towards us, but nevertheless, they can’t take that away our pride . This freedom is embedded in our culture. And it is passed on from generation to generation.

SEE THE COMPLETE ARTICLE BY ANTON ISIUKOV

Published: 23rd October 2023

Categorised in: Events, News