My traditional image of artist’s workshop got stirred a little when I visited Helsinki Litho workshop about three years ago. Most of the space was occupied by stone and metal structures used for printing, making art. No canvases nor beautiful wooden painting stands. Instead lots of light, colors and sounds.

Meeting four artists was something else than the usual public servant meeting. I got a peek of another kind of world, and I can still remember how my knees and stomach felt when meeting Mr Kuutti Lavonen, an artist I admire.

Result of the meeting is called Contemporary Lithography from Finland. Exhibition showcases latest works of eight Finnish artists. They are combined by lithography and Helsinki Litho, an open workshop in Helsinki.

Lithography is a technique used to produce graphic arts, literally printed off stone. Offset printing came after it and is nowadays widely used, but lithography remained as artists’ tool. The imprint and scale of shades it offers pleases more the eye, but it comes with a price. Helsinki Litho workshop was filled with huge stone slabs. Artists rubbed down the stones, polished them from ink and worked on new ones with massive rolling pins. All that with human power.

Three years passed with ups and downs, but now the 33 art works are on display at Bangkok Art and Culture Centre. BACC is conveniently located next to National Stadium BTS station with direct access to 3^rd floor. Exhibition Contemporary Lithography from Finland is on view in the 3^rd and 4^th floors until 3 February 2013.

I highly recommend interested ones to join the artists tour this Sunday. Valpuri Kylmänen and Kalle Berg will share details about their work and explain the technique on Sunday 20 January at 15.00. Meet them next to the entrance in the 3rd floor. Tour is conducted in English.

Artists of the exhibition are: Maija Albrecht, Kalle Bert, Matti Hintikka, Kuutti Lavonen, Tapani Mikkonen, Kaisu Sirviö, Valpuri Kylmänen and Miikka Vaskola.