ITE art is Finnish visual contemporary folk art.
The artwork collections built by the ITE artists are stunning and they offer a memorable experience for the traveler. The most usual location for an ITE art collection is artist’s own backyard.
ITE art
ITE art is Finnish visual contemporary folk art. The concept of ITE art comes from Finnish phrase “Itse Tehty Elämä” that translates a self-made life. ITE artists work outside of the official art world, and they present their artwork in their own everyday environment. ITE artists are self-taught, and they don’t have a formal art education. Finnish ITE art is very original and ingenious.
The artwork collections built by the ITE artists are stunning and they offer a memorable experience for the traveler. The most usual location for an ITE art collection is artist’s own backyard. The tourists are more and more interested in authentic experiences and the local way of life. There are several ITE art sights in Finland that can be visited as agreed or within opening hours. Middle of Nowhere website presents the ITE sights to be visited and various events related to ITE art that are held in Finland.
Middle of Nowhere website presents the ITE art sights to be visited and various events related to ITE art that are held in Finland.
ITE art 1998-2022
ITE art in Finland
The roots of Finnish ITE art go back to 1998, when the Finnish Association for Rural Culture and Education started to survey contemporary Finnish folk art. Finnish visual folk art and creativity didn’t have a well-established name or definition before this project began.
As a result of the exhibition and publishing activities as well as active communication organized by the Association for Rural Culture and Education, the concept ITE art quickly began to spread to the consciousness of the public and the art world.
Finnish visual folk art has similarities with the international concepts Art Brut and Outsider Art, but they should not be confused. Contemporary folk art means living fully with one’s own environment. Outsider Art, on the other hand, is often a result of an impoverished environment, such as being exposed to an institutional environment.
Finnish visual contemporary folk art is officially known as ITE art and it is a part of the international Outsider Art field.
