KIMMO
MATIAS
Kimmo Matias is an artist, musician, designer, editor-in-chief/creative director and the founder of
K-oodi Magazine. A creative madman. His art varies from abstract art to figurative art, from
commissioned portraits to erotic gay art. In this interview he shares his journey in the fields of art
and design, talks about his first solo show 'Bittersweet Love', K-oodi Magazine, his future plans
and how he manages to juggle it all. Interview by Suzi Gessert. Photography/Imagery courtesy of Kimmo Matias.
What is your background in art?
I never studied fine art, although I did go to a design
school which exposed me to art history, color harmony
and many other things related to art. I also attended some
live model drawing classes while in design school. But the
focus was always on design, not so much on art. I think all
the drawing, painting and sketching helped of course.
Learning the human body and being able to envision a
garment on it, in 3D, was essential in my training.
Do you remember how young you were when you first
realized your love for art? Was there a particular thing
that prompted this realization?
A childhood memory comes to mind. In it, I am holding a
pen between my teeth and showing off a Mickey Mouse
drawing. I was maybe six, though I wouldn't say I realized
my love for art then. I guess the first time I had a
realization of sorts, was in my early teens. I switched
schools because my family moved. I remember during the
first art class in the new school everyone stood around my
desk. I was doing a drawing of a horse. The attention I got
made me feel special and at the same time awkward. It
made me realize I was different.
What was your main artistic focus early on?
When I was really young I wanted to become a dancer. A
ballet dancer, no less. I would walk around on my toes.
But at the age of 8, I was involved in a car accident and so
there went the dancer dream. Singing was something I
loved to do early on. I used to do harmonies with my
mother. And drawing of course. In the end of 80's and the
beginning of 90's I started writing poetry and wrote my
first book - although the book was never published - as
well as sketched my first fashion illustrations. Maybe
drawing and singing stands out the most. I remember
singing gibberish to the melody of Barbra Streisand's
'Memory' while bicycling to school when I had no
knowledge of English language yet. Also I would often
record my own voice with one of them old tape recorders.
I don't know why I did that but I did it all the time. I guess
from early on, I have been interested in various creative
things.
Where did you do your undergraduate studies?
I did my undergraduate studies at Lahti Polytechnic,
Institute of Design. It's one of the two top design schools
in Finland and I was lucky to get in. They only take 12
people per program each year, out of hundreds of
applicants. I graduated in 2002, few months prematurely
with one year's extra credits. Let's just say I did a lot
during those four years. Before my Bachelor's degree I