Tuomas Jääskeläinen, Art Director & Art Lover
"I got into hip-hop and graffiti in the ’80s as a teenager. Back then, you couldn’t buy the right Adidas sneakers or baggy jeans in Finnish shops, so we had to create our own DIY versions. I learned to use a sewing machine and painted hoodies and denim jackets with fabric paints. Our crew was quite a sight, roaming the city with spray cans rattling in our backpacks. We were bold dressers back then! I studied at an art high school and later at art school, where all kinds of self-expression flourished. These experiences carried me through the formative years of growing up."
"SkatePal is a non-profit organization supporting communities in Palestine, promoting the social and well-being benefits of skateboarding to enhance the lives of local youth."
"Style begins with confidence. Whatever your style may be, it ultimately comes down to how you carry it. Are you comfortable with yourself beneath the layers?"
"Of course, those same layers can also serve as a mask – hiding your true personality. A dark suit at a fancy party can become a costume, allowing you reinvent yourself for one night."
"Every time I wear this coat, I get compliments from random passersby. I bought it as a raincoat, but I’ve learned the hard way it’s not really that waterproof."
"I do follow fashion and certain designers, and I’ve gone to great lengths to track down specific pieces online. These days, I try to buy less and rediscover special items in my own closet. The best feeling is finding a piece that’s been abandoned at the back of the wardrobe for ten years – and falling in love with it all over again. I have to admit: I can’t resist T-shirts. They’re souvenirs to me – memories of concerts, exhibitions, or even favourite restaurants."
"Clothing is always a form of communication, though it can be unconscious."
"I got the last remaining “NEWS” sweater at the Garbstore in London a couple of years ago. I guess I wasn’t the only one rooting for independent journalism in these difficult times. London and New York are my favorite shopping cities. In New York, XL sizes are always available, and in London, the sales go all the way to -70%."
"I was thrilled to find a Leonhard Lapin scarf at the KUMU Museum shop. He was such a Renaissance man! I saw these Beams+ trousers online and tracked down the only two stores in EU that stocked them."
"I worked as a magazine art director for 20 years, and I still hoard a massive collection of my favorite mags from the past three decades. Titles like GQ, The Fader, and The Face used to be my style bibles back in the day. Now it’s only bloody Instagram."
"I’ve started wearing suits more often since discovering Universal Works’ casual line of suiting. They’re so comfortable and easy to care for."
"One person who has influenced my style is director Wes Anderson and his velvet suits – what a perfect blend of smart and casual."
"While living in New York in the summer of 2011, I tracked down tailor Mr. Ned in Manhattan, who made suits for him – and for the fox puppet in Fantastic Mr. Fox."
"I approach dressing very casually, though I do think about it quite a bit. I never wear the exact same outfit two days in a row. For me, dressing is also about being considerate of others. That’s why I like to make an effort for friends’ parties, for example."
"And let’s be honest – it always feels good when someone compliments your outfit."
"This sweater is almost 20 years old. I bought it for 10 or 20 dollars at the original Alife store on Rivington Street in the Lower East Side. They had a garage sale in the tiny backyard."
"This is how I nap."
"These shoes were a gift from the artist EGS. I liked them so much that I bought another pair."
"About art at home"
“My art collection reflects the world we live in. On my walls, you’ll find all kinds of people and cultures – fine art, graffiti, photojournalism, and gig posters side by side. Every piece is meaningful and brings me joy every day. ”
“Many of the artists are friends, and their works are tied to personal memories and encounters.”
"Rauha Mäkilä’s “It is what it is” is the largest piece in my collection. I had decided that with the money from selling my previous apartment, I would make one major art purchase, but it took three years before I found the right one."
"I didn’t hesitate whether the painting would fit on the wall; I was ready to change the entire decor to match it."
"Graffiti has been an important part of my life, and my collection includes many works by artists with a graffiti background. I’m the co-author of the cult book “Helsinki Graffiti” (1998/2023)."
"On my trip to South Africa, I fell in love with Cape Town’s vibrant gallery scene and started following many local artists. A couple of years later, I was surprised when I came across a large painting by Sphephelo Mnguni at Bukowskis in Stockholm. It was unclear how it had ended up in Sweden, and it didn’t have the artist’s signature. I contacted Sphephelo on Instagram to confirm that the painting was indeed his. He immediately recognized his work and told me that it had been exhibited in a group show organized by a Swedish gallerist in Mallorca. We chatted on Instagram, and he told me about his friends who posed as models for the painting on their home street in Durban."