The iconic works of legendary gay artist Tom of Finland return to his birthplace Turku, Finland as part of their forthcoming European Capital of Culture 2011 celebrations with an expected audience of 75,000.

The show is being presented by UK arts organisation Homotopia in partnership with Turku 2011 Foundation and the Tom of Finland Foundation Los Angeles. The exhibition was a key highlight of the Homotopia Festival when Liverpool was European Capital of Culture in 2008, attracting record audiences of 7,000.

The show is a major retrospective of works on paper with 70 rare and iconic drawings from (1925-1989) will be on show on special loan from the permanent collection of the Tom of Finland Foundation Los Angeles.

Tom Of Finland was born Touko Laaksonen in 1920 in the village of Kaarina in the province of Turku, in South West Finland.

At the age of nineteen, he moved to Helsinki to attend college to study advertising and, for his own personal enjoyment, created his first homoerotic drawings.

He worked extensively in USA and died in Helsinki in 1991.

Tom’s oeuvre has had a ripple effect throughout gay and straight culture during the last 40 years, influencing lifestyle, political tolerance, design, fashion and art to popular culture.

Gary Everett, Artistic Director of Homotopia says: “This is a wonderful opportunity to work with Turku 2011 and present an exhibition by one of the most iconic and influential Finnish artists of modern times. It is really special that this will happen in Turku with it being Tom’s birthplace

“Presenting this exhibition is a real coup for Homotopia and fantastic legacy of our own capital of culture in 2008.”

Suvi Innilä, Programme Director Turku 2011 Foundation adds: “We are thrilled that Tom of Finland exhibition returns home. For the entire year his works return to his childhood neighbourhood.

“This exhibition is also one of the bridges between Liverpool ‘08 and Turku’s year as the European Capital of Culture in 2011. Our cooperation with Liverpool has been very fruitful in many ways.”

Related links

www.homotopia.tv

www.tomoffinlandfoundation.org

www.turku2011.fi/tomoffinland