JUHA-PEKKA POHJALAINEN

ELIN KARD (EK): What is the main connotation of the word ‘exile’ for you? Does it mean lifelong status of a refugee, of self reduction and homelessness or, on the contrary, big freedom ?

JPP: For me, it has a negative charge and several meanings, but I also understand it as a kind of mental state where one can be forced by his environment. (Jante law)

EK: Do you have any personal experience of exile?

JPP: No, I do not, and yes I do.

EK: What kind of impact has the world of globalization, that evokes people to adapt with new neighbourhoods and emerges cultural backgrounds and ethnicities, on your work?

JPP: It has a very big influence in my work; in general I am interested in the problems it causes, like (latent) racism and abuse of the third world, but also the slow suffocation of (original) cultural habits and traditions.

EK: Is it necessary to leave one’s country to experience being in exile?

JPP: No, you can be in exile where ever you are, even in your home country.

EK: What kind of ideas and emotions evokes in you the following words:

· Communication political power
· generations traditions/MY blood
· political violence Appears on several degrees, in the civilized part of the world it could be similar to ignoranse
· multicultural society disappearing national identity
· language roots and identity (my mother language), globalization and Western Culture... more than just a tool of communication
· nomadic modus vivendi possibilities
· ethnic epuration – genocide worth of comment only in areas that have something to give (like oil) to civilized part of our planet
· crimes against humanity – war crimes Human behaviour... on societal degree media and tv-war/scapegoats and witchhunt (The Eternal Battle of “Good” and “Evil”)
· religion How-to justify juxtapotions between people and nations