The Glazunov effect

The Russian painter Ilya Glazunov became known as President Urho Kekkonen’s court painter in Finland in the 1970s. The portraits of influential Finns painted by Glazunov prompted an intriguing phenomenon in Finnish art at the time. Many of these portraits are now on display at the Ilya Glazunov and Finland exhibition at Kiasma.

The exhibition features some 30 portraits of Ilya Glazunov's friends, from Johannes Virolainen to Timo Sarpaneva, Armi Ratia and Anita Hallama. The portraits still provoke lively discussion: the models - who were famous and influential figures in politics, business and cultural life - continue to be household names.

ANITA HALLAMA, THE "FINNISH GODMOTHER"

Glazunov's close relationship with Finland began in Moscow in 1957, when diplomat Jaakko Hallama visited the young artist's exhibition. He learned from the Swedish ambassador that Glazunov had painted a portrait of the ambassador's wife. Impressed by the portrait, many diplomats in Moscow had decided to order works from Glazunov. They were joined by Hallama, who wanted Glazunov to paint a portrait of Anita.

Anita Hallama was the first of Glazunov's many Finnish models. She was styled the "Finnish godmother" who discovered the artist. Mrs Hallama became later known as a close supporter of President Urho Kekkonen, and she revealed a public secret in her memoir in 2001: her long romantic involvement with Kekkonen. The book also includes Kekkonen's personal opinion of Glazunov.

SOUL MATES

Glazunov arrived in Finland in late August 1973 to paint a portrait of President Kekkonen. Before that, however, he painted one of Armi Ratia (1912-1979), the founder of Marimekko, working in sculptor Laila Pullinen's studio in Espoo, where he painted many other works.

Glazunov and Ratia became soul mates. Glazunov praised Ratia, who he thought to be "strong as Finnish granite" and "bright as Finnish lakes in the spring."

BEAUTIFUL KAARINA

The exhibition also includes an impressive portrait of Kaarina Kivilahti. The story has it that Glazunov asked her to buy several evening gowns, so he could pick the one he liked the best for the portrait. Kivilahti posed for Glazunov many times before the portrait was completed. The nearly two meter tall painting is on display in the exhibition.

Merja Kukkonen

Exhibition Ilya Glazunov and Finland until 29 August, 4th floor, Kiasma