Eeli Aalto

• Name — Eeli Alvar Aalto • Born — 6 February 1931 • Birthplace — Vyborg, Finland (present-day Russia) • Education — Academy of Fine Arts, Helsinki • Occupation — visual artist, television director • Years Active — 1950s–present

During the Winter War, Eeli Aalto and his parents fled the war to the Pohjois-Pohjanmaa region, first to Liminka and then to Oulu. Eeli Aalto became acquainted with art at the age of 10 when he saw paintings by the Liminka-based artist Vilho Lampi.

Jukka Lindfors describes Eeli Aalto's films as personal statements, a kind of television essays or pontifications. "They are often poetic and nostalgic, but they also have quite a lot of fresh humour, acridity and black satire." According to Lindfors Eeli Aalto's artist documents give away an air of understanding reaching beyond the surface, and each subject is also reflected in the filming and editing of the films. His subjects have often been peculiar marginal characters, creative outsiders. Aalto often also appears in his films himself, sometimes as a fictive character.

Aalto lives in Kempele. Aalto's son Simo Aalto is known as a magician, Aalto's grandchildren Saara and Suvi Aalto are singers and Sari Aalto is a ventriloquist.

• 1966: Vilho Lampi – Lakeuden maalari; Kaupunki • 1967: Viimeinen tuomio; Eräs Im Memoriam; Haikara lensi ohi; Hiljaisen miehen maailma • 1968: Kuin kamee; Taulu; Lastentaidetta • 1969: Hei hei, tämä on totta; 36 000 päivää Oulussa; Elukka • 1970: Röijy • 1971: Hailuoto, hyvän haltijan saari; Myrrysmies; Kain tapper; Unelma paremmasta elämästä; C-G Lilius • 1972: Euroopan mestari; Afrikkalainen keskustelu • 1973: Reidarin värilliset aistimukse; Taakkasi on minun • 1974: Tyttökauppias • 1975: Maalaismaisema; Iso pieni tyttö, Anu Pentik • 1977: Kauko Rantalan mustavalkea maailma; Reima Pietilä; Piina • 1978: Anna-Leenan jouluaatto • 1978: Tuhlaajapojan paluu; Anna-Leenan jouluaatto • 1979: Aurinkogalleria • 1980: Kerro kerro kuvasti – 6 osaa kuvataiteesta; Synti suuri surkia • 1981: Erämaakoira; Paluu Ithakaan; Merkillinen matkakertomus • 1982: Häät Kempeleen kirkossa; Mielipiteitä taidekasvatuksesta • 1983: Kissa vieköön; Dostojevskin galleria; Lentäjä Non Grata • 1984: Rakentamisen draama; Kirstinän runot heräävät; Oulu -10 • 1985: Muistojeni albumi; Budapest-Rock; Mauno Haartman; Juhani Pallasmaa; Keijo Petäjä • 1986: Vuosisadan talvi; Oulun koulu; Yksin; Elämän äänet; Jouni Kesti; Oulun horisontista; Satu Huttunen – Vuoden nainen; Kesäyön oikkuja • 1987: Kirkkokatu 50; Punaiset kengät Sodankylässä; Tuhlaajapojan päiväkirja; Kirje maailman katolta; Paskajuttu • 1988: Kadonnutta tietoa etsimässä; Taiteen tähden – Veijo Hukka; Itsemurhat; Jorma Uotinen; Erotiikkaa etsimässä; Huippukokous mummolassa; Valmentajan muotokuva; Picasso Tukholmassa; Giorgio Morandi; Matti satujen talossa • 1989: Tekstiilin intiimi kosketus; Edvard Much; Simosalabim (5 parts) 1989; Passikuva (4 parts); Tapaaminen Oulussa, Paavo Rintala; Uusikatu 1989 • 1992: Helene Schjerfbeck Ateneumissa; Alberto Giacometti; Wiipurini; Tuhlaajapoika ja Sokrates • 1992–1994: Jokeri pokeri box (32 parts)

Eeli Aalto was recorded at birth as Eeli Alvar Aalto. His recorded language was Finnish. One child is recorded: Simo Aalto. Other recorded relations include Saara Aalto.

In addition to paintings and sculptures, Aalto made numerous television documents for Yleisradio, such as a document about star singers called Synti suuri surkia in 1980. The document Piina about the artist Alpo Jaakola (1977) was awarded the Jussi Award for best television film. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union Eeli Aalto travelled to his home city of Vyborg in 1991. He said that seeing the city after half a century first felt like descending to a nightmare. "I felt a foreigner, but so did the Russian inhabitants." Eeli Aalto made a documentary film Wiipurini (1992) based on his trip to Vyborg. Eeli Aalto also made a series of writings and photographs called Viipurinmatka based on his trip, which he also published online in his series "100 kuvaa Oulusta".