Äkkijyrkkä
Miina Äkkijyrkkä is a Finnish sculptor and defender of traditional eastern Finnish cattle.
Sculpting
Akrylics
Protective work
In addition to her work as an artist, Miina Äkkijyrkkä has kept eastern Finnish cattle, known as “kyyttö,” and has been an advocate for Finnish native cattle breeds.
Miina Äkkijyrkkä in Her Own Words – “I Was Born a Sculptor”
I started sculpting at the age of three. I stuck four sticks into a log and ran to my mother saying, “Look, a cow!!”
The perception and understanding of a three-dimensional and visual world have taken me to the ends of the earth. The work of a sculptor is interesting, navigating between economic, materialistic, and many fashion trends.
In elementary school and throughout puberty, I drew a lot. Calves, bulls, and cows were my friends. They were my inspiration during childhood.
Because of my wildness and rich imagination, my mother isolated me from other children by putting me in the calf pen.
When I was twelve years old, my father took me to an art foundry, and on Sundays, I got to look at small sculptures from the window while sitting on my father’s arms. Outside, there was a large equestrian statue of Marshal Mannerheim in progress, which left a lasting impression on me. From that moment on, I knew I was a sculptor. I carved farm animals from alder wood, sitting at the workbench, animals that had been etched into my retinas.
In September 1969, I started my sculpture studies at the School of the Finnish Art Academy in Helsinki. I felt I was in the right place. I was 20 years old, and the heavy rock of sculpture art felt like a responsible weight on my shoulders.
In 1973, I was released onto the wild art markets and began exploring the world. I have traveled to many countries and been influenced by them. South America, Southern and Central Africa, New Zealand, and China remain unknown to me.
I have particularly enjoyed India. Among the big cities, my favorites are London, Paris, Dubai, Tokyo, and Singapore. I miss the hustle and bustle of New York, its jazz, and its galleries. Cows have taken me to the most incredible places.