Marimekko in full bloom

The flower wholesale market in Sörnäinen last night was chilly but a heartwarming place to see the flowery clothes of Marimekko´s spring-summer collection 2011. After CEO Mika Ihamuotila had welcomed the guests the star of the evening was Mika Piirainen who at last could show his talent in a whole fashion show. It was lovely to see how that shy guy has got a great amount of self-esteem and a smile of joyful easiness. They are to be seen in the strong lines and tasty colours of his must-have clothes which make you wish that the summer would be here soon. Has perhaps his Golden Hanger 2010 Award given him more confidence? The evening was a success, and as it always is, so tempting that the invitees are boldly inviting even half a dozen of their friends!

Sunshine for sale

Did you know that there is a ”hidden” shop in the heart of Helsinki? At the corner of Postitalo, opposite the Sokos department store stands a glass cubicle full of Finnish designs by Com-pa-ny, combining tradition, quality and wit. And at last the talent of Aamu Song and Johan Olin got the acknowledgement it fully deserves: this year´s State Award for Design. Congratulations!

I have been collecting small penguins for ages, and now I think becoming one myself by bying their funny penguin outfit...

Salakauppa is open from Wednesday to Friday from 2-7 pm, Saturday from 12 am-6 pm.

How do you want to be remembered?

That question entered to my mind on Tuesday in the Östasiatiska museet in Stockholm. The exhibition of China´s Terracotta Army in the dark tunnels beneath the museum is impressive, beautiful and saddening at the same time. So much talent, hard work and suffering of the artist workers was needed to make sure that the eternal life of the Qin Shi Huangdi, First Emperor of China, would be as safe and valuable as possible.

Now we know that we do not need material objects to help and serve us after our death. At least I like to think that the most comforting thing to follow you when you die would be not the suffering but the loving thoughts of your beloved ones.

Who is afraid of Louise Neri

What to think about a woman who says that she appreciates conversation and then talks about herself 90 minutes? Well, Louise Neri, the director of International Affairs in the worlds´s biggest privately owned art gallery Gagosian New York, certainly has had an interesting life worth of sharing. That became clear when she gave a speech on the role of the commercial galleries on today´s art world and market at The Aalto University School of Art and Design in Hämeentie on Monday.

It became also clear that if you want be succesful in the international art scene to be lucky is not enough. You have to be a hard-working, iron-willed, multi-talented, knife-sharp, no-bullshit-lady samurai. And to understand that to be a world famous media person you must create your own person to a piece of art!