Minkkinen Collection

When I was just starting out, I was worried about termites in my workshop and spent a lot of time searching for ways to get rid of them. After making my first series of lamps, “Takna,” I threw the waste grape wood into a corner of the workshop yard, and the termites began covering them with their clay. A year later, when I accidentally broke one of these clay coverings, I discovered the beautiful artwork the termites had created, and decided to make a collection from them.

I named the collection “Minkkinen” in tribute to Arno Rafael Minkkinen, whose photographs I admire. The shapes of the wood reminded me of his photos, where he merges human body parts with branches and tree trunks to create extraordinary images.

Note: After this incident, I annually place wood in the yard for the termites, serving both as their food and as material for their creations.