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Learn more about Tom from the letters he wrote

3rd June 2020, 9:39 pm

 

 

 

 

Suvi Jalli interviews Susanna Luoto from Tom of Finland Foundation [with English subtitles].

Tom of Finland is the artist name of Finnish Touko Laaksonen (1920, Kaarina – 1991, Helsinki). He signed his erotic work “Tom”, and when his drawings were first published in 1957, the now world-famous “Tom of Finland” was born. “Touko Laaksonen” was kept for family and colleagues; both friends and fans have always simply called him “Tom”. Tom of Finland’s given name was Touko – because he was born on 8th May, on the southwest coast of Finland, and “May” in Finnish is “Toukokuu”.

Tom of Finland is one of Finland’s most internationally renowned artists. The master of homoerotic art was also an advertising art director, whose correspondence has survived from more than six different decades.

The correspondence introduces Touko as a young man, a soldier of the Continuation War, a musician, an advertiser, a brother, a beloved uncle, a friend, and finally an older man suffering with disease. Behind the letters emerges a modest, humane, humorous and creative man who loved music. Later, for Tom, music was replaced by art whose influence and legacy has become greater than he could even dream of.

Correspondence of Tom of Finland

SEE, READ AND LISTEN TO LETTERS WRITTEN BY THE ARTIST AT THE POSTIMUSEO SITE. NOW IN ENGLISH.

 

FIND THE BOOK ABOUT TOM’S LETTERS BY SUSANNA LUOTO

 

The exhibition, Unforgettable Letters from Finland, runs through 31st January 2021 in Tampere, Finland.

 

Interview on letters by Tom of Finland ONLINE

NOTE: This is Finland time.                     The correspondence of Tom of Finland, (born Touko Laaksonen) reveals a civilized, modest, human, family... View Article

Release of Tom of Finland postal stamps and corresponding exhibition attract widespread attention

The Tom of Finland postal stamp series and a coinciding exhibition of Tom’s letter correspondence, Sealed With A Secret – Correspondence of Tom of Finland, recently launched in Finland to national and international attention. Finland’s postal service,... View Article

#TOMs100

  Tom was born Touko Valio Laaksonen in Kaarina, near Turku, on the southwest coast of Finland in 1920.   Tom talks about his youth: We lived in a school... View Article

Published: 3rd June 2020

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