Jouni Inkala

Finland, 1966

He studied fine art, but later switched to philosophy and literature at the universities of Oulu and Helsinki. Until the year 2005 he had published seven collections of poems which were all very well received (Tässä sen reuna, 1992, Huonetta ja sukua, 1994, Pyhien seura, 1996, Sille joka jää, 1998, Autiomaaretki, 2000, Kirjoittamaton, 2002, and Sarveisaikoja, 2005). He also wrote a radio drama Huomenna on toinen päivä which was broadcast on Helsinki radio station. He has edited various anthologies, he writes essays and newspaper columns and has also translated selected poems by Günter Eich, Hugo Dittberner and Patrick Beurard-Valdoye. His work has been included in various anthologies of modern Finnish poetry which were published in Germany and Italy. In 1995 selected poems by Inkala were translated into German and published under the title Aus dem Hause und dem Gesclechte. He has participated in several poetry festivals including Slovenian festivals held in Medana and Maribor. He received various prizes and writing fellowships for his work. He is married, has two sons and lives in Helsinki.