Ateneum - Silent Beauty

Kyllikki Salmenhaara, vase 1959

Silent Beauty Exhibition at Ateneum was a wonderful, immersive experience. The works were skillfully grouped in different halls and the combination of paintings, kimonos and ceramics had been carefully considered. After seeing the ceramics on display at the exhibition, I have a better understanding of what Minna Eväsoja and Beth Kempton said about wabi-sabi. It is true that 20th century Nordic and East Asian artists had many common sources of inspiration. I'm currently reading a Japanese book Shinrin-Yoku, The Art and Science of Forest Bathing by Qing Li - thank you for the tip Diane! I have not previously realised that in Japan there are so many forests and they are 'forest people' as we Finns. Nordic art is characterized by its silent contemplation and connection to nature. The same can be found in Japanese art. Beautiful and enchanting exhibition, well worth a visit.

The artists featured in the exhibition include Heidi Blomstedt, Shoji Hamada, Erkki Heikkilä, Rune Jansson, Aimo Kanerva, Carl Kylberg, Maija and Ahti Lavonen, Bernard Leach, Ufan Lee, Ulla Rantanen, Kyllikki Salmenhaara, Key Sato, Helene Schjerfbeck, Jaakko Sievänen, Per Stenius, Zao Wou-Ki and Samiro Yunoki. 

"Nordic and East Asian art share the idea of everyday beauty and a connection with nature. The exhibition juxtaposes visual art, ceramics, textile art and architecture by Finnish, Swedish, Japanese, Korean and Chinese artists." - Ateneum

Yoshitaka Yanagi, kimono 1977

This is a treasure that I have not seen photographed anywhere!

Helene Schjerfbeck, Trees in Wind 1918, private collection

❤︎

Bowl, Takea-Karatsu -ceramics, late 1700 - 1900

Haori, 1800s

Kimmo Kaivanto

 Zao Wou-Ki, Painting 1959

Shōji Hamada, Bowl 1956

Anitra Lucander, Stilleben 1954

Einar Ilmoni, Island 1910-1911

Key Sato, Birth of Stones 1958

Red art grouped in one hall. The text on the wall told the Japanese see
almost 10 different shades of red. Red symbolizes courage, joy, energy and blessings,
but also madness, stress and danger. In many cultures the sun is described as yellow,
but in Japan and Korea it is depicted in red.

I do not have information of all art works, it is worth visiting for yourself
and exploring this charming exhibition - if you happen to come to Helsinki.
Beautiful presentation and great works soothe the mind.

// WILLY-NILLY  
// LITTLE THINGS THURSDAY
// ALL SEASONS 
// MOSAIC MONDAY
// IMAGE-IN-ING

Friday Bliss #48 - Summer is a Busy Time!

I have been a bit busy, doing this and that around, being hardly at home.

Busy are also the bees and bugs. Under rain they were frenetic in collecting nectar 

on ligularias & other plants.

Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus & Iris pseudacorus are memories from June,

but fit well to my yellow theme this week.

I was not at home, but there had been a heavy rain fall. Many blooming flowers were

bent down to earth. I picked a few and put them in a vase to enjoy a bit of them.

❤︎❤︎❤︎

Wishing you a sunny weekend!

- riitta

 #FRIDAY BLISS 

The link is open

FROM FRIDAY 7 AM TILL THE NEXT TUESDAY 4 PM
Helsinki time

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Sightseeing: Lush Green & Exotic

Talvipuutarha / The Winter Garden of Helsinki is a wonderful place to visit.

Now photos from inside from my visit in early May.

About everyman’s rights

The freedom to roam, or everyman's right, is the general public's right to access 

certain public or privately owned land, lakes, and rivers for recreation and exercise. 

In Scotland, the Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, 

the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and the Central European countries 

of Austria, Czech Republic and Switzerland, the freedom to roam takes the form of 

general public rights which are sometimes codified in law.

The access is ancient in parts of Northern Europe and has been regarded as sufficiently basic 

that it was not formalised in law until modern times.

To give advice to the general public

as how to behave in the nature,

in The Winter Garden there was this rhyme:

Don't trample on lawns, don't damage the trees!

Don't disturb the peace of nature, 

don't disrespect, don't roar!

Clean your camp site, remove your garbage!

Don't draw pictures or names on trees, 

you'll just stain what was pretty.

Beware, protect someone else’s own. 

Memories in honor always!

All this in your mind imprint!

In addition to permanent plants, there are always flowers and

flower arrangements according to the season.

// MY CORNER OF THE WORLD
// WEDNESDAY AROUND THE WORLD
// IMAGE-IN-ING

HERE / Photos from outside & HERE / Heat loving plants.

Mixed Impressions

On All Seasons Jesh asks for August details. So here my mix of miscellaneous details

I have seen lately. We parked in the center of Helsinki in an underground

parking. The corridor leading to The Music Hall was this tidy & elegant. 

And it was long. I loved the green plantings on the wall.

I photographed some random facades. You see, all architecture in Finland

is not ultra modern!

No post without flowers! I’ll add a recent flower collage, too.

I’m participating in Aino’s weekly Color Collage challenge.

She gives the colors of the week and we need to interpret them in a collage.

Model colors together with blue clematis Arabella.

I visited HAM - Helsinki Art Museum and the ladies’ room had this

beautiful rosa mosaic! If you want to read my post about

the Ellen Thesleff exhibition, please click HERE.

// ALL SEASONS

// MOSAIC MONDAY