Talking about a certain style in chopper builds, the Swedish chopper is often mentioned, but just over the border heading east, the Finish people certainly has find theirs to. We had a brief chat about Finnish Kustom Kulture with the organizer, Marco “Platu” Planting, of the show Kustom Kulture Finland.
Who are you and what’s your part in Kustom Kulture?
– My name is Marco “Platu” Planting. I’m the organizer of the Kustom Kulture Show. I’ve been in car/bike scene all my life. I’m also a pinstriper and kustom kulture artist. I’ve done that over 20 years and been painting n 14 different countries, hot rod and kustom shows and tattoo conventions. Yokohama Mooneyes Show and KKF in Germany as an artist many many times etc. Old Style Weekend, Rat Fink Reunion, Moon Bike Show, Power Meet… I also published the Primer Magazine many years, but I sold that one to my friend.
You will find Platus art page in Instagram: platu_68And Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlatuKustomPinstriping/
For anyone never visited Kustom Kulture in Finland how would you describe this event?
– KKS is not a car show (only). It’s combination of the car and bike show, art show and party. Main focus is in kustom kulture, art and craftmanship. Car and bikes are there too, but there is no competition between them or anything like that. Over 50 artists from around the world, hot rod, kustoms, choppers, bobbers, kustom bicycles, music, burlesque, vintage & swap market etc. As may people say, this is the best garage party, all the right people are there. It has grown a great international get together weekend for kustom kulture freaks all over the world.
If I got it right its the 8th time this year, Is it an annual event?
– Yes, this was the 8th year. KKS is annual even in old Cable Factory close to city center in Helsinki.
What was your intention starting it out?
– I’ve been in the scene since I started to build scale models as a young boy and customized Honda Monkey when I was 15. Since that I’ve been doing something in different shows, organizing model car contests, valve cover race, pinstriping etc. All the shows were the same, boring fairs with lot of booths that has nothing to do with the hobby. Also venues are quite boring, fair centers or ice hockey arenas. And when I started to travel a lot, I saw KK events in many countries. I took the best ideas from all of them and desided to make something different. And it worked, every year more and more people comes to Helsinki to have fun weekend with other kustom kulture people.
Did Kustom Kulture help bringing more people from Finland building kustom wheels?
– I think that the quality of vechiles has gone forward and interest to do something different has rised, also in other countries in Scandinavia. We have lot of visitors every year from Sweden, Denmark and Norway. We have had also bikes and cars from those countries. In bike scene Finland has always been top. In Norrtälje custom bike show, finnish builders takes many trophies every summer.
Kustom Kulture gained a really reputation by know, does it attract visitors and exhibitors from far away? Did you have any really long-distance guests or exhibitors this year? And where did they came from?
– Visitors all over the world and this year we had exhibitors from 15 countries. Australia, Japan, USA…
How many visitors/exhibotors did you have this time?
– About 4700 people.
Did you have any real interesting highlights this year all and all but also natives, Scandinavians?
– Two new kustom cars in premiere from Recyclers CC. Many new bikes. World premiere of the new movie by Pixeleye, Squeezed Up. Top artists Boo and Ghost from Japan, Russel Murchie from Australia, Hot Rod Jen from USA and Dan Collins/Old Gold Garage Ventura California. Art of Etienne Butterlin exhibition etc.Annual Art Charity Auction made a new record, 5750€ to charity!
Are you pleased with the outcome of it this year?
– We had 10% more people than 2019 so it was ok.
Are you organizing any similar events?
– No, not now, I have a dayjob also… and lot of pinstriping.
Do you already have a date for the next one?
– 2021 Show will be on 13.-14.2.
What would you like to say to all future Kustom Kulture visitors?
– Welcome to Helsinki, not the biggest but the cosiest KK event in the world, like few USA artists have told me, it’s “mini-Yokohama”. And that’s a lot. 🙂
All the great pictures are by Janne Sällinen.
