Helsinki Fresh takes Berlin

Month of Sundays clothing and accessories are designed by the sister-duo Milla and Iina Kettunen.

 

Katri Niskanen, the winner of  the first Finnish Project Runway reality TV show, has now her own fashion label.

Jenni Ahtiainen and her gTie give a new meaning to the word accessory.

Photos@Heidi Uutela

Where do the Finnish young designers get their ”sisu” and creative force?

Does it come from walking in a deep snow?

Swimming in the ”avanto” (a hole in the ice covering the lake in the winter)?

Drinking huge amounts of coffee?

You might find the answer in the Direktorenhaus in Berlin where the Helsinki FRESH exhibition presenting 25 fashion designers, illustrators and photographers living in Helsinki is open to July 8th, until the end of Fashion Week Berlin.

* Direktorenhaus Gallery, Am Krögel 2, 10179 Berlin. Open Tue-Sun from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Free entry.

 

There is also the book Helsinki FRESH: 25 Young Creatives which is well worth of buying. The texts are in English and German, the photos by Heidi Uutela.You can order the book also by mail from

www.helsinkifresh.com/helsinki_fresh_book/

and get more info about the Helsinki FRESH agency there:

www.helsinkifresh.com/contact/

and about the designers here:

www.helsinkifresh.com/designers/

New wood architecture in Helsinki

One building is temporary, the another one is here to stay. Both are a part of the World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 program.

Photos © Paula Hietaranta

 

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It looks like a huge wooden bowl in front of Kamppi bus station/shopping centre, still surrounded by a construction site. 
It is the new Kamppi Chapel of Silence, opened in the beginning of June and open daily, meant to offer some moments of peace to the busy shoppers and passers-by.

 

The atmosphere inside of the chapel is calming, and the light comes in beautifully. But why do the benches have to look like the coffins?

The Chapel is open Mon-Fri 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sat-Sun 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The official address in Simonkatu 7.

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A totally different atmosphere meets you in Paviljonki that was built to a summer living room and meeting place between Design Museum and Museum of Finnish Architecture, Ullanlinnankatu 2.

It is an inviting, lively place to meet friends...

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...to work...

 

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...to shop some tempting design pieces ...

 

 ...to have a mug of coffee or a piece of a plum-goat cheese-basil-pie, 5 euros.

 

The furniture made for Paviljonki is a heavy-weight stuff and a nice reminder of the Finnish summer and all the DIY activities so much loved by the townies on their ”kesämökki” vacations...

Paviljonki is open until 16th September and open Tue-Sun 11 a.m. to 21 p.m.

www.wdchelsinki2012.fi

Attention! The Pavillion is closed during Midsummer, though, when the whole Helsinki is more or less closed and you can find some activities only in Seurasaari Open Air-Museum.  

www.nba.fi/en/museums/seurasaari_openairmuseum

The amazing art of Ken Mai

The opening night of Cris af Enehielm´s exhibition Geisha! was highlighted by two performances of the Japanese, Helsinki-based butoh artist Ken Mai.

I saw the second one, and it was an experience beyond understanding : impressive, energizing, deeply touching.

The artist himself was so touched by the attention of the audience that he started to cry...

 

At the moment Ken is in Paris where he has his two  ”Poem of Phenomenon” solo performances and a workshop. In July he will be in Russia and in Italy.

The schedule of Ken Mai´s performances and butoh workshops you find here:

www.kenmaibutoh.com/en/infomation.html

And do not miss the Cris af Enehielm´s wonderful exhibition Geisha! which is open until August 12th, 2012, at Galerie Forsblom, Lönnrotinkatu 5, 00120 Helsinki.

www.galerieforsblom.com

Photos © Paula Hietaranta

Home Sweet Designer Home

A fresh approach to Finnish design is to be found during this summer in Tammisaari: all the chosen designers of the exhibition Home Sweet Home are Finnish but living and working abroad. Here you see some heavyweight examples of the exhibition.

Welcome!

Photos @ Paula Hietaranta

  

In the living room are the architectural felt works 
by Anne Kyyrö Quinn (London).

In the kitchen is a selection of colourful thumblers 

by Eero Koivisto, a part of Claesson Koivisto Rune (Stockholm).

In the wardrobe you find shoes by Julia Lundsten (London) 
and jewellery by Terhi Tolvanen (Amsterdam). 

 

 

In the corridor is a selection of the concrete works by  
Stina Lindholm (Gotland).

In the corner of the living room is the CU30 cabinet 

by Thomas Modeen (Doha, Qatar).

When leaving Home Sweet Home do not forget to pick up your kids who have been parked in the corner of the living room to watch the children´s films by Veronica Lassenius (Barcelona).

 

Home Sweet Home Design and Fashion exhibition is open to everybody until October 7th 2012 in Elverket, Kustaa Vaasankatu 11, Tammisaari. 

www.proartibus.fi