Each month the Institute’s staff recommends the best of Finnish, British and Irish culture. Here are our picks for June.
Karoliina pick: Precarious straits ~ survival on Southend’s new coast, Southend-under-Sea
I follow artist Sean Roy Parker @fermental_health) on Instagram and have been fascinated by his practice of combining environmental activism and fermentation. Parker is included in the ‘Precarious straits…’ group exhibition and art project at The Old Waterworks in Westcliff-on-Sea. The artists share their strategies for navigating towards a sustainable future, developed from how they approach their life and work. I would love to see the exhibition and participate in Parker’s wild food walk, learn making tinctures with Rabiah Mali and create interactive stories led by Laura Trevail.
Precarious straits ~ survival on Southend’s new coast, Southend-under-Sea. Open until 19 June (on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays), Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 7AB, UK. More information here
Jaakko’s pick: London Design Biennale Empathy Echo Chamber
Finland takes part in the London Design Biennale for the first time this year with Finland-born and London-based artist and designer Enni-Kukka Tuomala’s Empathy Echo Chamber.
Empathy Echo Chamber challenges contemporary ideas of echo chambers as emblematic of polarisation and isolation in the information age. In the Empathy Echo Chamber, brought to life both as a physical inflatable installation and a virtual space online, visitors are encouraged to reflect on their experiences and perspectives together and respond to each other through empathy.
The timing of Empathy Echo Chamber is perfect now as London is opening up after a long period of social isolation. Returning to face to face meetings in shared physical spaces can feel even a little scary. Empathy Echo Chamber helps us calm down, so that we can genuinely meet each other. After a long time spent in isolation, shared physical presence can be a powerful experience.
London Design Biennale 1.–27.6. in Somerset House. More information here
Ninni’s pick: Banksy in Mänttä
When I moved to the UK in 2015 I narrowly missed Banksy’s apocalyptic theme park Dismaland. This summer I’m determined to make it in time to Banksy’s exhibition at Serlachius Museum in Mänttä. At the moment it looks a bit challenging: the exhibition is fully booked, so my success will require either loosening of covid-19 restrictions or showing up early at the museum’s door as they do sell a limited number of tickets each day.
Banksy. A Visual Protest, Art Museum Gösta 15.5.–10.10.2021. Joenniementie 47, 35800 Mänttä. Free entry. More information here.
Volter’s pick: Clyde Built Radio and IDA Helsinki
A crucial part of my working from home setup has been finding the right music to guide me through the day. So for this month’s staff’s choice, I thought I’d share two trustworthy purveyors of soundtracks to the working day. IDA Helsinki (an offshoot of Tallinn-based IDA Radio) and Glasgow’s Clyde Built Radio are both excellent independent online radio stations that have made working from home that much more enjoyable.
Picture: Banksy
