Préface - mixed media collage by Kaija Rantakari / paperiaarre.com
If done right, a preface leaves things just open enough. It does not reveal too much of what's to come, but gives you an angle to focus on that makes reading the rest of the book a little more rewarding. I must admit, I hardly ever read forewords for novels - I want to face the book fresh, and the foreword written by someone other than the author isn't usually something the book's author intended to be an integral part of the reading experience (and I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to having an authentic experience - if a book is written in English, I'll most likely read it in English instead of as a Finnish translation). Prefaces are an introduction written by the author, and, as such, something I consider very much a relevant part of the whole. This preface I made for you is still missing the rest of the story, but maybe that will come with time.
Préface - mixed media collage by Kaija Rantakari / paperiaarre.com
This beautiful old photo of two girls writing comes from an old Swedish photo album that once belonged to a girl named Bodil, and my family much later found it and gifted it to me. There are tens of photos from 1913 to 1922, all quite adorable and high quality. I expect Bodil's story to continue in my work for years to come.
Préface - mixed media collage by Kaija Rantakari / paperiaarre.com
Freshwater pearls are a recurring element in my mixed media work. They have this amazing glow to them that seems to illuminate everything around them, and they go well with the vintage materials I use. Also, they're not perfect - their asymmetry is better than perfection.
Sometimes I like to add little useless details to the backside, too. This time I embroidered some circles around the hanging string.
Préface - back detail - mixed media collage by Kaija Rantakari / paperiaarre.com
(vintage photo, vintage book pages, freshwater pearls, handmade paper, kraft paper, board, twine, sewing thread, glue)
29,9x21,6x1,3cm / 11.8"x8.5"x0.5"
I feel many people live as though the current moment is just a preface to their happy life. Life is life. I'm glad to be in a strangely good place in my life, but I'm still guilty of sometimes just waiting for my life to begin. Thankfully that happens less and less often. I'm 32, I think life began some time ago.
PS. the windy collage from two weeks ago is now also available in my shop.