A Major Milestone for Finnish ITE Art: Book on Veijo Rönkkönen Published in Japan
The first foreign-language translation of a book about a Finnish ITE artist – Veli Granö’s work introduces Japanese readers to the unique world of Veijo Rönkkönen, creator of the Parikkala Sculpture Park. A book presentation and discussion will take place on Wednesday, 18 November.
A new milestone has been reached in bringing Finnish contemporary folk art to international audiences. Artist and author Veli Granö’s book Veijo Rönkkösen todellinen elämä (The True Life of Veijo Rönkkönen) has been published in Japanese. The Japanese edition was published by Tokyo-based Shinhyoron Co. Ltd. and translated into Japanese by Yukako Uemura. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first book about a Finnish ITE artist to be published in translation outside Finland.
The Parikkala Sculpture Park created by Veijo Rönkkönen is Finland’s best-known ITE art environment internationally and attracts approximately 40,000 visitors each year.
The book tells the story of the life and art of self-taught artist Veijo Rönkkönen (1944–2010) from Parikkala. Rönkkönen is best known for the Parikkala Sculpture Park, where a flourishing garden and more than 500 concrete sculptures form one of Finland’s most distinctive art environments and an internationally known visitor attraction. Rönkkönen is regarded as one of the leading figures in Finnish contemporary folk art, known in Finland as ITE art.
The original edition, published in 2007 by Maahenki Oy, combines Veli Granö’s personal knowledge of Rönkkönen, developed over several decades, with artistic and cultural analysis. The book explores both the stages of the artist’s life and the origins and meanings of his distinctive art. It tells the story of a solitary boy who suffered from severe social anxiety but independently found his way to art and, through it, achieved a sense of balance, meaning and recognition.
“Veijo Rönkkönen’s life’s work is an extraordinary story of how one individual can build an entire world around his own vision. It is wonderful that his story and art are now reaching readers in Japan as well. At the same time, Finnish ITE art has new opportunities to gain international recognition.”
– Veli Granö
The translation project began when Aya Yoshizumi, an editor at the publishing house Shinhyoron, discovered Rönkkönen’s works online. The publisher asked translator Yukako Uemura whether she was familiar with the artist’s work. When Uemura found Veli Granö’s book about Rönkkönen, the publisher proposed translating it into Japanese.
In preparation for the translation, Yukako Uemura familiarised herself extensively with Finnish ITE art. She visited Finland in summer 2024, explored the Parikkala Sculpture Park, met experts in the field and received materials and background information from Maaseudun Sivistysliitto, the Association for Rural Culture and Education. Uemura also wrote an extensive afterword for the Japanese edition, introducing the history, terminology and distinctive characteristics of ITE art to Japanese readers. The book can therefore be considered the first extensive Japanese-language introduction to Finnish ITE art.
“When I began translating this book, I had no idea how far ITE art would take me. Through Veijo Rönkkönen’s story, an entire world of independent Finnish art opened up to me. I hope Japanese readers will find in the book both artistic inspiration and a new perspective on Finnish culture.”
– Yukako Uemura
The publication demonstrates that Finnish self-taught art is attracting interest far beyond Finland’s borders. At the same time, it strengthens the position of the Parikkala Sculpture Park as an international cultural destination and opens up new opportunities for cultural cooperation between Finland and Japan.
INVITATION: Book presentation and discussion on cultural connections between Finland and Japan
We warmly invite you to join us for “The World of Veijo Rönkkönen Opens Up in Japan” – Author Veli Granö and Translator Yukako Uemura Share the Story Behind the Book’s Journey to Japan.
Veli Granö will speak about Veijo Rönkkönen’s art. Translator Yukako Uemura will discuss the translation project and her journey of discovery into the world of ITE art. The discussion will be moderated by journalist Jani Halme.
The event is free of charge and open to everyone.
Date and time: Wednesday, 18 November 2026 at 3:00 p.m.
Venue: Rosebud Sivullinen, Kluuvi Shopping Centre, 2nd floor, Aleksanterinkatu 9, Helsinki
BOOK: Veijo Rönkkösen todellinen elämä
Author: Veli Granö
Translator: Yukako Uemura
Publisher / editions:
– First edition: Maahenki Oy, 2007
– Second edition: Maailmanpylväs ry, 2018
– Japanese edition: Shinhyoron Co. Ltd., 2026
FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE BOOK
Veli Granö
Artist and author
grano.veli@gmail.com
Yukako Uemura
Kagawa University
Translator of the book from Finnish into Japanese
Contact details available through Maaseudun Sivistysliitto (Association for Rural Culture and Education)
FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE SURVEYING, DOCUMENTATION AND PROMOTION OF ITE ART IN FINLAND
Raija Kallioinen
Cultural Producer
Maaseudun Sivistysliitto (Association for Rural Culture and Education)
raija.kallioinen@msl.fi
Tel. +358 40 563 6876
FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE CURRENT SITUATION OF THE PARIKKALA SCULPTURE PARK
Atte Paju
pajuatte@gmail.com
Tel. +358 50 523 4757
LINKS
Parikkala Sculpture Park https://www.patsaspuisto.net/
Veijo Rönkkönen: https://msl.fi/itetaide/en/artist/veijo-ronkkonen/
ITE-art https://msl.fi/itetaide/en/front-page/
Visit ITE www.visitite.fi