How to chill during winter

January 7, 2017January 7, 2017 / Mel_inHelsinki / 6 Comments

I asked Siri recently what the temperature was and got this reply:

siri

Which made it clear to me that Siri is not Finnish because -10 / 14F and sunny is a perfect winter’s day in Helsinki.

What we’ve had lately though is -21 /-5.8F with a wind chill of -28 /-18.4F, making life difficult as we still have errands to run and as we don’t have car it’s all done on foot.

So when Markus Watkins emailed me this week to tell me about his photos of people doing summer-time activities during winter, it really resonated with me.

Rowing Nowhere by Markus Watkins

Perhaps it’s the futility of rowing on a frozen lake or searching for summer berries in the snow, but I really like the way he’s thrown the two together because no matter the weather we are outside everyday.

Sno Berries are Found by Markus Watkins

After living in Finland for three years, Markus understands this well. The 16-year old photographer was born to a British father and Finnish mother and moved to Finland in 2014.

It was while visiting his family’s summer cottage in Asikkala, 130km north of Helsinki, that he found the inspiration for his latest project, The Impossible Contrast.

Markus Watkins

“After the weather being grey and gloomy for several days, it changed and suddenly got incredibly cold, and the sun came out! I needed to make the most of it. Since I was at my summer cottage I thought that it would be very interesting to mix my favourite summer activities and contrast them with the winter. The impossible contrast,” he says.

Ice Cream by Markus Watkins

Currently in high school, Markus is teaching himself about photography and developing his skills as he goes. “I think it is much better to learn this way because you learn the self motivation to keep coming up with ideas and keep developing your own style. I love sharing my images with the world, it gives me a good feeling!”

Break the Ice by Markus Watkins

He also gets a good feeling from visiting Asikkala, a place his family has been returning to ever since he was a kid.

the-cold-never-bothered-me-anyway_markus-watkins

The Cold Never Bothered Me Anyway by Markus Watkins

“My summer cottage is my favourite place in the world. Every time I come it has a different vibe or feeling, which makes it amazing for photography.”

Better Luck Next Time by Markus Watkins

As well as his photography, Markus’ sense of humour is also on show in the titles he’s chosen for his photos and I particularly like this comment he makes on his website: ‘Fingers and toes were harmed in the making of this series.’

A Chilling Tale by Markus Watkins

Check out more of Markus’ work at:

https://www.instagram.com/markus.watkins/

https://www.behance.net/gallery/47008717/THE-IMPOSSIBLE-CONTRAST

I love you – & inanimate objects

July 26, 2016 / Mel_inHelsinki / 13 Comments

While Finnish people do feel emotions, they don’t tend to express them as often as we do in New Zealand or other parts of the world.

Finnish Nightmares by Karoliina Korhonen

In fact, my Finnish friend told me she finds it over the top when foreigners express their love for inanimate objects like coffee, or a town they have only visited once.

Finnish Nightmares by Karoliina Korhonen

So, I’ve already told you that I love Kiasma and I’m sorry, but I’m going to say it again.

Miko and I visited Helsinki’s museum of contemporary art on a cool and wet summers day recently and really enjoyed (loved?) the interactive exhibitions.

Happy Together by Choi Jeong Hwa runs until September and features colourful, tactile pieces for adults and kids to enjoy.

The works of Brazilian artist Ernesto Noa are so big you are encouraged to move inside them and to lie down in his giant crocheted hammocks.

There’s also a room of scents, held in beautiful earthen jars. We had fun guessing and recoiling as we sniffed our way down the row.

We spent a couple of hours looking around, which is quite good for my four-year old companion, before descending to the cafe on level one.

I had my usual favourite, the Moroccan haloumi salad, but not before gushing to the waitress, ‘I love this salad. I think about it all the time when I’m not here.’

To which she returned a small polite smile and no doubt wondered at my over the top confession of feelings for these inanimate objects.

Kiasma

I was gifted a Museum Card a while back and recommend it for anyone interested in visiting museums. Pay 59€ once and receive free entry to 200 museums in Finland for one year.

The Exhibitionists – What we saw in Fiskars

October 18, 2015October 18, 2015 / Mel_inHelsinki / Leave a comment

We balanced out all the eating and drinking we did in Fiskars Village by going to see some art (because art – (eating + drinking) = balance). Science.

First we visited ONOMA, the cooperative of artisans, designers and artists in Fiskars. All members live or work in the village and the co-op organises exhibitions as well as running a store.

The buildings in Fiskars are so grand and old, they really provide a wonderful backdrop for all that’s on display.

In this case it was locally-produced homewares, jewellery, glassware and furniture.

They also had answers to problems you didn’t know you had – like how to store your eggs in a fittingly stylish manner.

There’s a cafe connected to the store and rooms out the back where you can sit and read.

Next up, we visited We Love Wood(s)!, ONOMA’s summer exhibition at the Copper Smithy.

Here, master woodcrafters such as cabinet makers and carpenters, teamed up with designers to create beautiful and practical objects for everyday use.

Bowls by Matti Söderkultalahti

Storage dishes by Susan Elo & Rudi Merz

Some used traditional word-working methods, while others used modern technology such as laser cutting.

Bench by Antrei Hartikainen & Sakari Hartikainen

Omkring (space divider) by Mia Cullin & Petri Koivusipilä

We moved through to an adjoining warehouse, where there were larger pieces and an installation consisting of a circle of speakers, each broadcasting a different forest sound.

Boat of pine, oak and tar by Jussi Nordberg

The next morning we rose early & explored the area around The Granary.

We then went inside to visit their exhibition, Minun Kalevalani (My Kalevala).

The Kalevala is Finland’s national epic, based on oral folklore and mythology. It is considered one of the nation’s most significant literature works and is said to have played an important part in the development of the Finnish national identity.

In this show, 28 craftsmen from Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Estonia used iron to present different parts or interpretations of the stories.

We had a lovely time in Fiskars and strongly recommend a visit next time you are in Finland.

I particularly liked these guys, who managed to combine all the elements of the shows (wood + art + Kalevala + iron), putting us back in credit, just in time for lunch.

Fiskars Village

Upcoming event: Fire and Light 24.10.- 21.11.15

ONOMA

Kalevala

Special thanks to Kaisa at Fiskars Info who provided tips on where to visit and liaised with the galleries, who gave us free entry to the exhibitions.

Face painting for beginners

May 21, 2015May 22, 2015 / Mel_inHelsinki / 6 Comments

I really like Lokal and was happy to see recently they were having an artist in to paint pictures of the public.

I booked a time for Miko and told him that a man was going to paint his portrait. ‘My what?’ he asked. ‘Your portrait,’ I said. ‘You know, paint your face.’

When we arrived another family were just finishing their sitting, so Miko explored the joy of infinity in the mirrors while we waited.

When it was his turn to sit, Miko wriggled around until I told him he had to sit as still as he did last week when the doctor was trying to pull a piece of lego out of his nose. ‘Out of your nose?’ asked the artist. ‘How did it get up there?’

‘Oh,’ explained Miko patiently. ‘It was Star Wars lego and it jumped up there.’

Matti Pikkujämsä is a Finnish artist who does a lot of illustration in Japan. He also made the wooden animals featured in Lokal’s Wild Animals Helsinki exhibition.

Finished and pleased with the result, Matti and Miko posed for a photo before we headed home.

‘Do you like it?’ I asked Miko. ‘Yes,’ he said, smiling. ‘But Mummy, I thought you said he was going to paint my face.’

How I Came to Run an Art Gallery in Helsinki

February 26, 2015October 31, 2015 / Mel_inHelsinki / 12 Comments

I was engrossed in Google Maps the other day, looking for an art gallery I wanted to check out but could not find anywhere. Finally I looked up, and there it was. I was standing right outside.

Lokal describes itself as 72% art and 28% coffee, which is a pretty good blend to me. It specialises in local, independent artists and designers and holds themed exhibitions.

The current exhibition is ‘Never Never Land’ and features playful pieces from various artists, including some of the most stylish miniature houses I’ve ever seen.

The store is full of gorgeous design objects, with more available online and worldwide delivery.

I had a really nice chat with owner Katja Hagelstam, who opened Lokal in 2012. A courier came in as we talked and when she had to leave for a few minutes to give him a parcel she looked at me and said, ‘You’re in charge.’

Unfortunately not much happened. I didn’t even get to sit in my cool new office or make anyone an espresso.

But nothing got broken and Katja seemed very relaxed when she got back. Lokal is moving ten doors down at the end of this month and as I left there was no mention of me being in charge of packing or carrying boxes so I assume my contract is over. It was good while it lasted.

LOKAL – now at Annankatu 9, Helsinki

Hey Helsinki

A New Zealand girl in Finland

art

How to chill during winter

I love you – & inanimate objects

The Exhibitionists – What we saw in Fiskars

Face painting for beginners

How I Came to Run an Art Gallery in Helsinki

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