THE VIITAKOSKI FAMILY TRAGEDY AND OTHER ARTISTIC FATES FROM THE CITY OF ETERNAL NIGHT – Mika Rättö

THE VIITAKOSKI FAMILY TRAGEDY AND OTHER ARTISTIC FATES FROM THE CITY OF ETERNAL NIGHT

The Viitakoski family is one of the most renowned cultural dynasties in Finland, also known internationally as trailblazers who challenge artistic conventions. Their ranks have produced leading visual artists, writers, dancers, ceramic and glass artists, theater visionaries, and composers. The most recent of their members to achieve global fame is Hella von Viitakoski, with her acclaimed series Heirs of God, and her son, Jan-Erik Juhani Viitakoski, who played the lead role in the work at the age of just eight. The Viitakoskis are known for their modern and radical—at times even sensationalist—approach to art, as well as their alternative intellectualism and scandal-ridden private lives. They have been a staple of tabloid headlines and frequent visitors to courtrooms, as their premiere night scandals have sparked countless legal battles in Finland.

The Viitakoski family is also infamous for their tragic fates—most of them have met untimely ends. Unexplained illnesses and irrational accidents have haunted them. A few examples include the collapse of a lighting truss onto conductor Pentti Viitakoski during the world premiere of The Cursed at London’s Royal Albert Hall; Viena Viitakoski, who played the role of The Maiden of Light at the Vienna State Opera, catching fire mid-performance from electric candles; and Britta Katariina Viitakoski—Jan-Erik’s mother (by then bitterly divorced from Hella von Viitakoski)—who was blown up by a World War II landmine while picking strawberries at the family’s summer estate, Villa Atelier. These events, often referred to as The Viitakoski Curse, have fueled speculation about pacts with the devil, secret society conspiracies, occult rituals, and even sacrificial ceremonies.

The last surviving member of the Viitakoski family, Jan-Erik Juhani Viitakoski, began his musical career as a child star and was on the path to international stardom when he mysteriously vanished. He was declared dead after a decade of absence, only to reappear in his hometown thirty years later—riding a blue bicycle. Today, Jan-Erik resides in the family manor, owned by the Viitakoski Foundation, and is rumored to be restarting his career in minimalism and contemporary art.