Bunnies by Heljä Liukko-Sundström

Heljä Liukko-Sundström 1981: Jäniksenpoika
2008: Toi rusakko

Bunnyboy (Jäniksenpoika 1981)

The bunny kids are going to jumping school, but the school is tough. Four of the five siblings are very good in jumping, but the fifth cannot stretch his legs for a jump. The doctor says there is no strength in the legs and mother is worried.

The bunny, who cannot jump decides he cannot stay and he climbs a tree with his strong front paws. One day a turtle comes his way and Bunnyboy is amazed, there is someone else cannot jump either.

He starts to explore and meets an older gentleman bunny, who is afraid to cross the street. Bunnyboy digs him a tunnel under the street. The older bunny is impressed.

In the end a beautiful bunny girl, who can jump very far, finds him. And together they can jump far and then climb high when needed.








That brown hare (Toi rusakko 2008)
Brown hare Roi sees a group of bunnies figure skating. He wants to join in, but he is scared. He thinks he is too different. He decides to sew a white bunny costume. The white bunnies welcome him, but then he trips and his costume rips. The other bunnies are a bit amazed but then decide that Roi can skate with them.

One of the white bunnies never speak to Roi. She often whispers to other bunnies and nods toward Roi. That bunny was not happy to have Roi skate with them. She talks to hedgehogs to come and whisper to  Roi. The spikes of the hegdehogs
hurt Roi. The hedgehogs hadn't thought of that and are very sorry. Roi misses practise and the other bunnies worry. They hear about the plot and they make the bully-bunny to go apologize to Roi in the dark forest. The white bunny stands out in the dark forest, because she doesn't have a brown fur for cover. The hawk gives her a scare and she hides under a tree. Roi passes by and she asks him for help. A squirrel says to her that she cannot ask for help, before she apologizes. So she does. Roi returns to the skating team and soon there are other brown hares practicing too.

The Bunnyboy book was created for the visually impared. The images were made from ceramics. And the message is still relevant: excepting  difference and the message is still the same today, when there seems to be all kinds of corner-patriotism.


This year Ms. Liukko-Sundström turns 80 and for that occation a biography was published. In that our beloved ceramics artist told her theory of dish memory: all the plates, cups and others remind us of the past. At least in Finland everyone recognizes the dishes Arabia makes. I my self have a cow and a butterfly pitcher that my grandmothers had. Most of the time all the old table ware are at the summerhouses.

To further celebrate the birthday, at the Arabia center is an exhibition of  Heljä Liukko-Sundström's new art pieces. Pictures below.

Climate conference of animals, representatives of
land: bear and bunny

Tower of jars