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Weekend Wrap

Luminous art, space-age architecture and a tender story of island living

Vilma Jää’s dream is to bring folk singing back to the folk.

Mikko Malmivaara

Marimekko celebrates 70 years of bold prints, a Finnish UFO lands in Somerset, and the tree-hugging world champ gets her crown. Click on any photo and take a look at recent creativity from Finland.

Old techniques and new technology meet in the “light paintings” created by Finnish visual artist Hannu Huhtamo. To construct his ethereal images, Huhtamo uses the movement of light and a specialist camera which allows him to see long-exposure photographs in real time. The results are awe-inspiring. (Photo: Hannu Huhtamo Photography) Read Nerdist’s article for more

A Finnish UFO has been spotted in Somerset, England. For a limited time, the spaceship-like Futuro house offers a one-of-a-kind place to stay at Marston Park. Originally designed by Matti Suuronen as a portable ski cabin, less than 100 of these tiny homes were ever made and only about 60 are left in existence. (Photo: J-P Kärnä) Read Dwell’s article

Yes, there is a forest called Halipuu (a hugging tree) in Finland. It was a fitting venue for the second ever TreeHugging World Championships held in August. The contestants’ skills were put to the test in speed hugging, dedication and freestyle hugging events. (Photo: Saara-Maria Salonen) Read The Barents Observer’s article for more

In September, Helsinki will showcase well-designed everyday life as the guest city at Beijing Design Week. Visitors at the largest design festival in Asia will have the chance to experience what smart solutions for learning and urban planning mean for the Finnish capital. (Photo: Mika Huisman / JKMM Architects) Read the City of Helsinki’s article

Finnish musician and DJ Yotto’s new single One Blood is a collaboration with Jamaican reggae artist Junior Reid. The techno single taps into Reid’s soaring vocals and features a vocal sample from his song of the same name. (Photo: Yotto/ Facebook) Checkout Dancing Astronaut’s article for more

Muumin creator Tove Jansson loved the sea. This shines through in her novel The Summer Book, which follows an elderly woman and her granddaughter as they spend a summer on a tiny Finnish island. The tender and humorous text is among author Kiran Millwood Hargrave’s favourite island books. (Photo: Pasi Markkanen) Read The Guardian’s article

Astrid Swan is back with a new album, D/other. The Finnish singer-songwriter worked five years on the album, due out in October, and covers such themes as dream states, mothering, loss, creativity and digital versus analogue. (Photo: Tekla Vály) Purple Revolver has featured the artist

Marimekko celebrates 70 years of fashion, bold prints and free-spirited bohemianism in 2021. The design house was formed in the postwar era to encourage positivity and personal empowerment and continues its mission today through bright colours and imaginative motifs. (Photo: UM/ FCP) Read the BBC’s feature on the company

Vilma Jää broke new ground this summer. The young folk singer incorporated Viena Karelian yoik singing and herding calls into her performance as Markéta in Kaija Saariaho’s opera Innocence. (Photo: Simon Kluth) Read OperaWire’s interview

By: Eeva Haaramo
03.09.2021