Hannu Väisänen

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Hannu Pekka Antero Väisänen (born 2 October 1951) is a graphic artist, painter and writer from Finland. He now lives in France, and his work has been shown in numerous European countries.{{cite web|url=http://www.booksfromfinland.fi/2004/06/lipstick-memories/|publisher=booksfromfinland.fi|title=Interview with Hannu Väisänen | Books from Finland|date=30 June 2004 |accessdate=2016-10-10}}

As an artist he is known for his aesthetic eye.{{cite web|url=http://www.youkobo.co.jp/en/air/2016/08/hannu-vaisanen.html|publisher=youkobo.co.jp|title=Hannu Väisänen | youkobo artspace|accessdate=2016-10-10}}

Väisänen has written a series of partially autobiographical novels, describing the young boy Antero growing up in a garrison area in a small town in Northern Finland, leaving his home, gradually opening himself up to the world, and becoming an artist.{{cite web|url=http://oga.otava.fi/authors/hannu-vaisanen/|publisher=oga.otava.fi|title=Hannu Väisänen – Otava Group Agency|accessdate=2016-10-10}}

Väisänen received the Finlandia Prize for literature in 2007 for the second novel in the series, Other Shoes. He also won the State Prize for Visual arts in 2008 and the State Price for literature in 2015.

Väisänen has lived in France since 1989, and he also holds French citizenship.{{cite web |url=https://www.is.fi/viihde/art-2000005834153.html |title=Tuoliin sidottu kirjailija Hannu Väisänen kertoi ryöstäjilleen lumesta ja Kalevalasta – näin dramaattisen yön tapahtumat etenivät |last1=Kauppinen |first1=Ina |date=20 September 2018 |website=Is.fi |language=fi |access-date=22 January 2019}}