onsdag 28 mars 2012

Kristiina Kolehmainen (1956–2012) - Comics Promoter par Excellence


It is hard to believe but yesterday the world of comics have lost a central figure - Kristiina Kohlemainen. In every project she took on she was the personification of the Finnish word Sisu (meaning strength, determination). And she was a good friend.

I first met Kristiina in 1995 and one year later she founded Serieteket. A library for comics, unique in Sweden and rare in the world. The library has since been a platform for different projects to promote comics as an art form. At Serieteket we arranged my exhibition "Själen är en liten hund" (The soul is a small dog) with pages from my book Canimus.

In 1997 Kristiina invited me to Angoulême Comics Festival and introduced me to the international comics scene. It was my first steps into the international scene. In 2002 she founded Small Press Expo, now called Stockholm International Comics festival. An event that has been growing each year. The guests have been artists like ATAK, Martin Tom Dieck, Yvan Alagbé, Gilbert Shelton, Edmond Baudoin, Ulli Lust and many more.

Few people understood the unique network Kristiina had. She had been going to comics festivals since the 90's so she knew practically everybody in the comics scene. Extremely valuable if you are running a comics festival. And few people understood the huge amount of work that lays behind creating such a festival.

Kristiina often phoned me after office hours about some new project she wanted to involve me in. Last year she called me about the Swedish Strindberg exhibition ”Livet är inget för amatörer”. That exhibition is now in the Swedish Institute in Paris and will open in Botkyrka in april.

We talked over the phone just the other week. Kristiina was at the hospital due to complications caused by the cancer she had been fighting. We talked about future plans and the festival. And now she is gone.

Sweden has lost it's comics promoter par excellence and many people in the world of comics have lost a good friend. I'm so thankful for all the help and kindness. I will miss Kristiina very much.

21 kommentarer:

  1. Well spoken Knut. No one can replace our dear friend Kristiina
    /Thomas

    SvaraRadera
  2. Den här kommentaren har tagits bort av skribenten.

    SvaraRadera
  3. Fint skrivet Knut; vi får kämpa vidare i hennes anda.

    SvaraRadera
  4. Thank you Knut for your words.
    Every feeling that rose when one was thinking about Kristiina was always linked with smile and good spirit. Now, a new and very heavy feeling has been added to her name: sorrow.
    I miss her too. I miss her so much.
    Kirsi

    SvaraRadera
    Svar
    1. Thanks Kirsi. I know you were friends. We will miss her.
      Knut

      Radera
  5. We will always keep her in our hearts.
    Thanks Knut to let us know it.

    SvaraRadera
  6. Hi Knut, it's Max from Spain, this is so sad. Kristiina was a wonderful person, I'll miss her a lot too.

    SvaraRadera
    Svar
    1. Hi Max, yes it's so sad. We will miss her... Take care, Knut

      Radera
  7. Thank you Knut, Kristiina was truly a woman of action. Patrik S

    SvaraRadera
  8. I'd just like to point out that Small Press Expo was really an extension, or you can say a new name, of what started in 1998 under the name Fanzine Heaven (by Kristiina, of course, who else!). I held a lecture on the history of fanzines on Fanzine Heaven 1998, so I remember it very well.
    I knew Kristiina well and now have a feeling of deep sorrow.

    --Ahrvid Engholm

    SvaraRadera
    Svar
    1. Thanks for pointing that out Ahrvid. Yes we all feel deep sorrow.

      Radera
  9. Sad news indeed. Rest in peace Kristiina.

    Phlppgrrd

    SvaraRadera
  10. Knut, you all at world of comics were her family. Serieteket was her baby. I know - I'm her little sister from Finland and I miss her so much. - Anna-Mari

    SvaraRadera
    Svar
    1. That's true, Anna-Mari. We will all miss her...

      Radera