Art Police

This is a new sculpture in Espoo, right next to the new museum of modern art, EMMA (which I still haven´t checked). This sculpture was done by Pekka Jylhä, who has been known for many other public sculptures, most notably for President Urho Kekkonen´s memorial statue in Helsinki.

This artpolice is supposed to show the way to EMMA and that´s why it has two hands to show that way. Surface of the sculpture is a bit bubbly in artistic way. In time I will learn to like it more.

Elin Danielson-Gambogi

Elin Danielson-Gambogi at Didrichsen museum of art and culture 27.1-1.7.2007

Very good exhibition of finnish female painter who moved to Italy, married an italian painter and did most of her paintings in Tuscany around 1900. All of her works show the magnificent italian light in a little bit scandinavian way. Exhibition also shows her husbands Raffallo Gambogi´s works that quite seamlessly blend into Elin´s works. Scenes and themes are quite similar in both artists works. Many of the paintings have never been displayed in Finland before. Excellent stuff.

Extra mention should go to Didrichsen museum of art and culture. It is a small museum in a quiet suburb in Helsinki. They have acquired many sponsors lately and that has enabled them to get more advertising and more time to keep the museum open. Also it is open every day. Not only is it open on mondays unlike other museums, it´s also free of admission on monday. That meant it was totally packed last monday with both finnish and foreign tourists. They also have lot of inventive merchandise. Not just books and postcards but also these tablets (see pic) that I bought. If people can´t spend on admission then they will buy something and these were selling a lot!

Another mention for the place itself. It´s located outside the center of Helsinki in a nice neighbourhood by the sea. House is designed by Viljo Revell in a cool 50´s style. Surroundings of the house have also lot of sculptures by Henry Moore and others. Henry Moore is one of the "usual suspects" showing in the museum and one exhibition about Moore and architecture will be there in autumn.

More here: http://www.didrichsenmuseum.fi/mainpage_frame.htm

Paulo Coelho: The Alchemist

I can´t make up my mind if this book was good or not. Sometimes it was so philosophical about world and people that it was too much. At the same time it was serene and extremely likable. Main character´s journey was something that almost every people can relate to. Searching the world and see what is there stored in for you. Also the gallery of side characters offered many ways to interpret your own life and feel the similarities in your own life. In the end I liked the simple and linear plot that was always moving the story forward.

It didnt´t make my life better and give me new directions (or maybe it will), but it felt good to read it. Finnish translation worked very well.

More here in Paulo´s blog: http://www.paulocoelhoblog.com/

Turku Main Library 2

Some arty blob in the ceiling of Turku Main Library. I have to research some more who did that. Here is the link to the page about art in Turku main library: http://www.wam.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=60173&nodeid=10898

Lamps attached to columns were slim and almost too cool.

Tree House - Puun talo

Foreign students come to Finland and have wood studios in universities because Finland is known around the world that here is wood and we know something about wood. A group of students each propose a building of wood for public space. In the end one proposal is selected and it is build. Last year the location was Fiskars and this year Wäinö Aaltosen museo in Turku.

I´ve been quite disappointed in the last two cases. Both have been meaningless "gates" or "entrances" into exhibitions that doesn´t really need this. In Turku the entrance to museum is directly from the street and then this treehouse was situated in a corner of the museum, near parkinglot. Also, it was partly blocking the entrance for the disabled (see pic).

Come on! There must be so much potential in these students who must have lot of talent. There must be so many other places that are in need of beautiful shelters for summer. Thousands of neglected busstops, market squares whatever. Next year, please, do something else than a meaningless gate to artmuseum.
Anyway, it looked beautiful and the light was great inside in a sunny day.

More here: http://www.turku.fi/public/default.aspx?nodeid=10898&culture=fi-FI&contentlan=1

Turku Main Library

I visited the new Turku Main Library and it was a revelation! It was planned by JKMM-Architects (Asmo Jaaksi) and interior decoration by Päivi Meuronen.
What can I say? It had it all. It was a tight space but it made the most out of it. It was monumental yet intimate at the same time. There was light and airy feeling but not like being in an aquarium. Views were magnificent from the windows showing the full splendour of historically multi-layered center of Turku: medieval churches, old wooden houses, Alvar Aalto´s legendary Turun Sanomat-building (1930) new houses etc. Signs were big and stylish and also both swedish and finnish languages were used in a great way. Colour scheme was restricted but fun at the same time: White painted concrete, bluegray carpets, oak walls and shelfs and yellow design chairs for splashes of colour. Kids section had inventive playfuyl details that made kids feel like at home. Art was used in inventive ways everywhere around the house.

Buildings like this make me happy that there are so many wonderful bright people in finnish architecture and design. Just about every detail was thoughtful and classy. Sometimes the ideas, location, space and budget comes together in harmony.

Here´s some photos that probably don´t make it full justice how wonderful the experience is at the real place.

B. Virtanen

Bought this first hardcover-edition of comic strips of B.Virtanen (translated like B.Smith) straight from the artists "factoryshop" near Turku. It´s always best to buy directly from artist, it comes signed etc...

I don´t know if these strips are published anywhere else. B.V. has been around 15 years in Finland describing the miserable wonders of office work. There is probably not a single office of any kind in Finland without one of these strips pinned next to copymachine or coffeetable.

Att förstå ett gammalt hus

In friday I visited a small town of Parainen, in Southwest coast of Finland. There was the publication of the new and improved second edition of this wonderful book: Att förstå ett gammalt hus. I had a supporting role in graphics, photo and illustration side of the book.

This is one of the most comprehensive guidebooks for renovating an old finnish house, covering all aspects of the house. Written entirely in swedish and released independently by Curatio.

Momentum Design cd/dvd-player

Momentum Design has designed this wonderful cd/dvd-player that should have been mine. I recently bought Sony Micro Hifi/DVD-set and plugged my new Sony turntable in it. This would have been the right kinda cd/dvd-player to go with the turntable. It has that sense of nostalgia but with new modern way for the 2000´s. No news about what speakers it would have had.

This must cost so much that I would have been really angry when kids had demolished this. It´s still better to go with more budgetfriendly items.

more: http://www.momentumdesign.ch/index-p8.html

Chill out

Summer is hot and everything is sweaty and sticky. So, it´s chill out time. Remembering December when everything looked so different.

Esko Toiviainen Exhibition

Today is Helsinki-day and I will see at least the exhibition opening of Esko Toivianen (1919-1999) among other things. Paintings from 60´s-80´s Helsinki in a classic impressionistic way. Uspenski cathedral, the largest non-russian onion dome church of the world was featured prominently in this exhibition.

Boris Akunin: The Winter Queen

The first part in the series of russian detective Fandorin. Quite entertaining detective conspiracy stuff from Russia. The main character Erast Petrovits Fandorin is quite young here, only 19, but is fast rising in Moscow police force. His young age probably explains his naivete and the fact he sometimes appears very quickwitted and sharp yet in some instances is only hapless teenager. Sometimes he knows stuff too easily but sometimes he can´t see twists coming that the reader sees coming miles ahead. Lots of russian roulette and high bodycount. Sometimes the plot is a bit difficult to follow as there are so many characters with funny titles. Some characters are barely introduced and then they die in imaginative ways.

What is refreshing here is the unusual time and location for detective-story. Moscow and 1870´s. Looking forward for the next installment "The Turkish Gambit". Excellent summerstuff!

Cloud 2 - Windmill

One glorious day in august before the big rain
The windmill decided to paint the sky
with the smallest brush
there was in the box

Cloud 1 - Sahara

For many days he dreamed
walking the dunes of Sahara
under the skies and wind of history
Never even close

There it was
better than the dream
In the sandpit
behind the crazy man´s hut