Author Archives: Johanna

About Johanna

artist and curator

Helsinki design capital?

As you know, I passed through the Helsinki airport about a week ago on my way to and back from Vienna. I’ve been so disappointed to the airport ever since the Finnish Design Shop shut its doors at the airport. The Finnish Design Shop was the only shop having any contemporary Finnish design besides Marimekko. At the moment, there are no proper design shops at the airport. So no Finnish in furniture, clothing, accessories, shoes or anything like that. Ok, you might say that yes, there’s Marimekko and Pentik, but I’m talking more about contemporary, innovative design. Yes, Marimekko does represent that to a certain extent but most of the fabrics are from the 1960s or 1970s and although I do like Marimekko, many of the products are very classic or even retro. So as I spent a few hours at the airport, I was once again rather shocked that firstly, only pieces of design you can spot are classic Danish chairs and Italian lamps, secondly, there are no shops representing solely Finnish design whether furniture, glassware, clothing or accessories, and third, that there are no interesting, reasonably priced places to eat. And this is during the Helsinki Design Capital year???? Somebody, do something!!!! So you cannot find products by Harri Koskinen, Julia Lundsten, Minna Parikka, Lumi Accessories, Jolier… Compared to Copenhagen or even Stockholm, Helsinki airport sucks.

Johanna

Kuopio-Vienna-Kuopio

Last weekend I was in Vienna, Austria, in one of our EU project meetings, UP TO NATURE. I left of Friday which was the beginning of the skiing holiday in Kuopio. The Kuopio airport was packed at 5.30am with wealthy families travelling to skiing holidays either in Lapland or somewhere in the Alps. I have never ever been able to take my family on a skiing holiday and I must say, I felt a bit jealous. I realized, once again, very concretely, that there are all these people who can afford to take their whole family on holidays (and have all the expensive skiing gears along) – in fact, for them is normal to take family holidays at least once a year abroad. I also realized that instead of having a proper skiing holiday, I was on a work trip for the weekend. Never mind that, because I really, really, enjoyed our meeting. It was great, useful, inspiring and informative. So thank you so much Thomas, Olivia and Nicole at brut Vienna and Helen & co and Hedda, Philip & co for a great meeting. We have created a great project and I’m really looking forward to the outcome. Unfortunately, I’m not able to make it to the first festival in Vienna, but I am planning to visit Bristol in June and Oslo in August. How exciting!



I also went to the opening of Imagetanz and saw a very strange performance…

Like I said, we are having the skiing holiday here but Vienna was very summer like already. It’s so strange to be located literally on the edge of Europe and see weird middle European road signs like this way to Budapest and this way to Prague… This was my second time to stay in hotel Fürstenhof, the strange but nice old fashioned simple hotel. This time I had a nice & spacious room and I slept surprisingly well. We also had some lovely dinners & drank some gorgeous Riesling and Grüner Veltlieners so I had a great time in Vienna! And I spoke some German, feeling very proud of myself.

Although I just received excellent grades from the economics of culture course and exam, please have a look at this wonderful article (in Finnish) by theatre director Esa Leskinen about why art shouldn’t bring any economic benefits!

In general, I have felt rather depressed recently as I haven’t received any project funding to produce my upcoming works. So I’m facing the same old same old questions of what to do, if to do then how or not do at all. Very inspiring start for new productions!

For the sake of the international women’s day, I wore Minna Parikka’s fuchsia Women are dangerous animals boots and went with my daughter to see a wonderful dancer Tuovi Rantanen performing a solo by the wonderful choreographer Ervi Siren. Women rule!

Johanna

-32.7 in Kajaani

Was teaching dance critique in Kajaani this weekend and really enjoyed it a lot. Inspiring conversations, lots of short choreographies as part of Kajaani Dance weekend, many collegues and good talks with Kira Riikonen and Sonja Pakalén for example. Busy and tiring but a great weekend!
Now waiting to get the results of the Finnish presidential elections…. As you may know, I’ve been in the support groups of Pekka Haavisto so it’s very exciting to see how the Finns have voted in the second round. But whatever the result, Pekka is the winner of these elections. He has brought very important issues into public conversation and I’m forever grateful for him for that. Pekka photographed with me in one of his campaign events in Kuopio by Savon Sanomat photographer Marko Happo:

Johanna

some moments of the past week

On Wednesday I went to Helsinki to learn about the new EU culture programme proposal Creative Europe. But my train was 1h 35mins late and I missed the most important part. Great. Luckily I had scheduled a few other meetings so that my whole day wasn’t completely wasted.

On my way home I popped in the Iittala shop on Pohjoisesplanadi to have a look at their sale products. Nothing for me there but instead I discovered the new KoKo mug in lovely pale pink and mint! Had to buy one each, they are so beautiful and just what I’ve been missing, a bigger mug. I’ve been so in love with the thin Kartio (35cl) glasses that I bought another two in sea blue. By the way, Iittala still has -30% sale for their members until the end of January so use it! And if you are interested in the KoKo mugs, they are on sale -20% in Sokos in February… It was actually very funny in the Iittala shop – as you are a member you tell your name at the cashier so when I told my name, the sales woman asked me if I’m from Kuopio, and I said yes, and she said that she has voted me in the parliament elections some years ago!


I also popped in to the Minna Parikka boutique on Bulevardi and Minna herself was also there. We had a nice chat and she showed some pictures from her upcoming spring/summer collection which looks great by the way, colorful, bright and fun! She also said that she’s decided not to move to London at the moment which I think is great for Finland and Finnish design & fashion world.

Last weekend I made my first ever American pancakes and they were simply delicious! I put some blueberries into the dough and we had them with honey and whipped cream, ooh la laa…



The presidential campaigns are heating up in Finland and I’ve also participated in a few acts supporting Pekka Haavisto. He’s in Kuopio today by the way so come and meet Pekka if you are still hesitating who to vote! Check the schedule of his visit here.

These pictures of the flash mob by Pekka Mäkinen:



I have to get to cultural economics now…I am a great and productive researcher…



Have a great day!

Johanna

cultural diversity and other thoughts

The first weeks of January have been a bit difficult and depressing. I didn’t receive funding from the Dance Council to produce my upcoming group choreography which has left me very puzzled. It’s again this situation where I’ve spent a considerable amount of time preparing this work, gathered most of the team for the work and now there’s not enough resources to produce it. What to do? Cancel the whole thing? Produce 1/3 of the plans? And what is that, artistically?

I’m still waiting to hear from few funds but somehow the situation doesn’t seem very promising. I have a similar situation with the international collaboration that I’ve worked on with Rebecca French. So let’s see what happens…

This week I spent two days thinking about multicultural cultural policy and cultural diversity in Finland. Multiculturalism has become more present in the Finnish society since the 1990s but why is it still in such an infant stage in the Finnish cultural policy? It’s about time for the Arts Council to reconsider and rethink their organization, structure, strategy, and funding decisions!

Minzi is one of my favourite clothing shops in Finland. It’s located in Jyväskylä where I spent a few days this week. Actually the first item I ever bought in Minzi, was a Lumi Accessories handbag a few years ago. It was on sale and advertised on their website. So I emailed them and asked them to send it to me to Kuopio – which they did. This is the kind of service I like! Since it’s the sales time at the moment, I went to have a look what they had in Minzi… and found this gorgeous Tiia Vanhatapio hat which I already had a look at earlier in the autumn but it was a bit too pricy for me. But now it was on sale and I’m a happy owner of my first Tiia Vanhatapio item.




My glasses by Kenzo, the woolen scarf by Marimekko.

And the silver ‘Carpe Diem’ pendant by Efva Atling.


Johanna

Love in the air

My friends Anniina and Tatu got married yesterday in a moving ceremony followed by a fantastic party. It was so wonderful to be one of the guests, hear the beautiful speeches celebrating the lovely couple, see great performances of music, dance, singing and poetry performed by their family members and friends. Everything went well, the food was delicious and I had a great time. Although I do not personally understand the urge to get married, I’m very very happy for Anniina and Tatu about their love, relationship and the wish to share it with all of us. So THANK YOU.

My daughter lent me a pair of earrings for the occasion.

I was wearing my new pink Minna Parikka Women are dangerous animals boots and was surprised I didn’t have to change into anything lower during the whole night. They are high but surprisingly comfy to wear (and even dance in!).

I bought them on sale (-50%) in Minna’s online store where for example now the gorgeous Corona handbag in pink is also on sale. I saw that at least Nelliina and MouMou have purchased that bag which I also desire but I went for the shoes… this time.

This week I’ve had a place in the CityPörssi second hand shop and went to take it down today. Before I’ve been really satisfied with the sales but not this time… Well, I did sell something but not nearly as much as the last time.

Yesterday I drove my daughter to Chrystal Cup in Mikkeli, an international ice-skating competition. Woke up before 5am and left Kuopio at 5.50am… the weather was ok but I was so tired and it was really boring to drive there and back on the same day.

On the way back, we stopped in Unnukka, in the Iittala outlet store and bought a couple of the very thin Kartio glasses designed by Kaj Franck. They are divine, thin, hand-made glasses to celebrate 1oo anniversary of the birth of Franck. By the way, for Iittala members they now have -20% until the 15th of Jan!!!!

Tomorrow I’m back working full time after the Christmas break – meetings, appointments, dentist, a day in Jyväskylä – a busy week ahead.

Johanna

happy New Year everybody!

I spent the New Year’s eve peacefully visiting my parents and grandparents in Hailuoto.

Now I’m happy to be back home, catching up with my own work, reading, writing and exercising this week. Just what I like. And this week my daughter has a ice-skating competition and my friends are getting married so I’m really looking forward to it all.

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, the sale started today in Minna Parikka’s online shop. Pretty amazing shoes and bags -30% and  -50%…I’ve already check out from the shop…

Have a great week!

Johanna

images of Amsterdam

Before Christmas I spent five days in Amsterdam where I performed Twirling World as part of the Nordic Gold event.
I haven’t been to Holland since my graduation in 1997 (besides the Schiphol airport) so it was great to visit Amsterdam again. Walking down the canals and narrow streets of Amsterdam brought back so many memories and emotions that it was all a bit overwhelming. Amsterdam has such a special character and feeling and I must say that I’ve missed it!




Walking on Nine Streets, I came across this pop-up party:

And I swear I wasn’t looking for and didn’t even know where the Marlies Dekkers‘ shops are, but this came on my way:





In one of the vintage shops I saw the exact glittery top that I bought in the 1980’s from London and which has been stolen from the performance I don’t have anything to wear.


I had a wonderful Saturday morning at the Farmers’ Market in Nordmarkt and the most delicious apple pie and coffee in Cafe Winkel. I bought tons of Dutch cheeses for Christmas – they are the best. I’m a very big fan of old gouda, especially the ones made of goat’s milk.






We performed Twirling World in Rabozaal, a new space between the city theatre and Melkweg. The space was great, a huge stage with a big seated audience. We just used the stage, cutting of the seating with a metallic wall.



The performance itself went ok, I think, but the day building up the show, trying to do a run through, warm-up, prepare and to get all the necessary stuff was very stressful. Two things I learned: Twirling World cannot be toured without my own technician and I need to have my own private accommodation.
This is the painting of the Amsterdam show:

I’m sorry I haven’t been a very active blogger recently. I’ve been extremely busy and therefor a bit too tired and stressed at times. But now I’m trying to relax and take it easy. A party with a group of girlfriends today – really looking forward to it!

Johanna

Twirling World tonight in Amsterdam! Welcome.

I’m performing Twirling World tonight with Sonja in Melkweg, Amsterdam at 9pm. So if you happen to be here, you are most welcome to the show. The space is great, Melkweg’s crew is fantastic and we are soon heading to Melkweg to start building the set up. Long day ahead of us. But tonight should be fun!

We were rehearsing yesterday in a studio in DasArts but Twirling World is very difficult to rehearse without the set up and the right space.  But I think we are ready and prepared and at least for me, the logic of the performance is very clear.
Ooh, and it’s so nice to be in Amsterdam! What nostaligia, what memories. It’s all a bit too much really.
And yesterday it was so great to see Maija and Jyrki and Tuovi and Pia…

Well, hope to see you tonight!

Johanna