Maaria Wirkkala and the touch of death

What are the historical museums for? Places to store old things? Yes, of course. But in the hands of an artist they become experiences to really touch your mind and heart.

That happens in Lahti where Maaria Wirkkala was invited to create an exhibition with the collections of city´s Historical Museum.

The given theme was death, and what happened?

The miracle that happens when the artist touches the material: there is no more an odd selection of objects but a journey to our innerness.

The silent room of a dead child with tiny shoes and angel wallpaper drawn by the artist herself when she was four years old, Heteka hospital beds, the video of the old hearse from the 1910s going round and round in the grey sky, the salty-sweet taste of funerary candy, the loneliness of seeing the end of one´s life to be near - this exhibition is not an exhibition but a work of art.

Jokaisella on oma aikansa (There is a time for us all) in Lahti Historical Museum, Lahdenkatu 4, is open until 3.4.2011 Mo-Fri 10-17, Sat-Sun 11-17. 

Do you wanna feel happy?

 

If yes, read, look and listen to Teemu Kupiainen.

His diary Viulunsoittaja kadulla (Fiddler on the Street), illustrated with lovely photographs by Stefan Bremer, tells about his travels in disguise of a street musician playing Bach in China, India, Maroc and France.

No, not in disguise – he, the viola and chamber music teacher at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, WAS a street musician, trying to live with money he got from the audience who could be a garbage collector in Hongkong or the music professor in Paris. Or a lonely cow in India.

This well written book is more than a story of everyday happenings: it is a journey to your inner self. It is sensitive, emotional, funny, painful, comforting.

When you read it, time stops.

There is only music.

Light.

Eternity.

 

Find out more about Teemu on his www-page

www.teemukupiainen.com

And listen to the birds and him playing Bach´s Chaconne in Delhi´s Red Fort

http://www.teemukupiainen.com/musat/ChaconneRedFort.wav

The King is speaking to you

 
Colin Firth as King George VI of Britain in the film The King´s Speech by Tom Hooper.

As all good movies The King´s Speech is more than the story it tells. And perhaps it tells a different story to different people, which makes it more interesting.

To me Colin Firth in the role of Prince Albert of York, later King George VI, painted an unforgettable picture of the family traumas and traditions. His stiff posture, watery eyes and uncontrollable stutter stay in memory as a picture of an unhappy child who could never fullfill his parents expectations. It made me ask what are our parenthood mistakes – can we ever became fully aware of them?

Luckily the King was forced to meet a person who could change his life: the Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush), a ray of sunshine, who cleared King´s speech and mind and brought warmth and courage to his life.

There are so many brilliant actors in this film - for example Timothy ”taxi driver” Spall in the role of Winston Churchill. His performance makes it perfectly clear that the likeness to a real person comes from inside, not from just looking the same.

A toast to the queen of Finnish knits!

This is the 30th birthday year of Riitta Sandrén´s Willana, and the get-together party for associates, press and friends was hold yesterday at Polhem PR office in Helsinki.

Congratulations Riitta on the feminine designs, beautiful colourless colours and delicate made-in-Finland quality - you really know how to flatter a woman´s curves and self-esteem!

Behind this successful woman is of course a man: her husband Risto Veijola. Risto is one of those lovely guys who – if they don´t know something – are willing to learn whatever is needed. And whenever it is needed: you should hear him to explain the finesses of Riitta´s mohair knits he once helped to construct!

Welcome to check where to buy Willana. You find the shops and products here: www.willana.com

The Merry Ladies of Marimekko

Yesterday evening I met these happy evergreen ladies at the opening of the new Marimekko flagship store in Helsinki.

They both have been a significant part of Marimekko´s worldwide success. Blond Vuokko Nurmesniemi, the designer with innovative sense of ideas and colour (some of her early creations are over 50 years old and still in production), and black Kirsti Paakkanen, the bold godmother who saved the starving Marimekko company with her sisu and creative spirit.

And love – yes. Love.

Their life and work tell us that to be successful to have brains is not enough. You have to have a heart as well.