On 7 June, Åland Post launches four new postal stationery cards in the price of which postage from Åland to any destination in the world is included. This year’s card series has the theme of yearning, and illustrator Lasse Harkkala took on the challenge of capturing this multifaceted emotion.
Finnish illustrator Lasse Harkkala, who lives in Geta on Åland, was the initiator of this year's theme, which he was also commissioned to interpret on four postal stationery cards. Here, he shares his thoughts on visualizing different forms of yearning:
“The theme brought a lot of images to mind. One of my first illustrations was the woman and child, eager to meet someone they miss and long to see again. I also enjoy writing letters and consider it a clever way to deal with longing, so, the card with a girl writing to a dear friend was a given motif. As a happy motorcycle enthusiast, I look forward to spring - especially during the last weeks of winter. Longing for the roads to be ice-free so that I can drive my motorcycle. And a longing for the sea and to go on adventures, I think many people can relate to that. Longing is a nice feeling that makes life richer.”
The postage-paid symbols on the address side of the cards highlight a detail from each card and mean that postage from Åland to any destination in the world is included in the price of the cards.
Facts about the issue
Date of issue: 7 June 2024
Artist: Lasse Harkkala
Edition: 4 × 2500
Price: €3.70 € /card
Size: 105 148 mm
Paper: Invercote 280 g
Process: 4-colour offset
Printer: Cartor Security Printers
Order the postal stationery cards at alandstamps.com, by post to Åland Post Stamps, P.O. box 1100, AX-22111 Mariehamn, Åland, Finland, e-mail stamps@alandpost.com or telephone: +358 18636639.