Michaela Schwentner
My residency, provided by the BMWKMS and the Helsinki International Artist Programme (HIAP), took place on Suomenlinna, an island located about two kilometers from the mainland of Helsinki. Suomenlinna is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and therefore very touristic during the warmer months. The history of the island is the history of Finland itself; it captivated me from the very first day of my stay and will continue to engage me for a long time to come.
Before my arrival in Helsinki, I had planned to expand my ongoing, multi-part project on the working conditions of women –particularly in the field of textile production – and the associated socialist (and) feminist demands for improvements in the 19th and 20th centuries to include the situation in Finland. However, on my first day I came across the Finnish Civil War and began researching the events. I was especially interested in the – mostly young – female textile workers who joined the Red Guards, fought armed and wearing trousers. Many of them were executed during and even after the war. I want to tell their story and have researched their various motivations, fears, doubts, and hesitations. During the Civil War, Suomenlinna served as a large prison camp where many inmates died from disease and malnutrition. The island itself – still visibly marked by traces of war, especially those of the 19th century –became my subject.
I also traveled around the Helsinki region to visit historical sites, frontlines, battle zones, and prison camps, including in Hämeenlinna, Tampere, Turku, Tammisaari, Hanko, and Hyvinkää, where the Villatehdas, the wool factory whose female workers mostly joined the Red Guards in 1918, is located.
During my stay, I developed an installation combining historical and contemporary maps of Finland, Finnish socialist songs translated into English, archival images, booklets containing a short film script, and several film miniatures, assembled in a non-hierarchical arrangement.
Participation in the Open Studio event at the end of the residency is not mandatory, but most residents chose to share insights into their projects. I also took part, setting myself a deadline for the production of text, sound, and image material, and translating the mainly theoretical and historical content into a spatial installation through which I could convey my project and its development process. The work on the project is not yet complete – the subject is highly complex and requires further in-depth research in order to translate my findings seriously into a poetic cinematic form.
My time at the HIAP studio was deeply inspiring and led me to a new topic and project more quickly than expected. With one eye, I took a historical view of Suomenlinna, Helsinki, and Finland; with the other, I observed current social aspects, which I experienced in a very positive way. Finnish society places great importance on ensuring that everyone who spends time in Finland has a good experience. The great openness, curiosity, and communicative spirit of the people will remain in my best memory – just like the natural features of the landscape, the constant interplay and simultaneity of water and land, and the unique light conditions that arise from it. All this offered wonderful perspectives – both into and onto the country, and beyond.
| 1. | My stay in one word: |
| Enriching! | |
| 2. | Dos & Don’ts in this place: |
| No don’ts, Dos: Choose the studio on Suomenlinna, travel around a lot, and explore the surroundings (from Tampere to Tallinn). | |
| 3. | Things I miss since I am no longer there: |
| The view of the sea and the vastness, the special and ever-changing light moods at any time of day; the people I met briefly or got to know better; the incredible helpfulness, openness, and calm friendliness of the Finns; the visibly well-functioning and attentive Finnish society and its achievements, which I truly admire; and finally the rides on the small, charming FRS ferries that only operate during the warm season because they are not icebreakers. | |
| 4. | Where to shop great supplies: |
| Since I mainly came here to research and write, I didn’t need much material. I found ribbon and construction paper at Askarelli (near Kamppi). | |
| 5. | What you should definitely bring with you from home: |
| Earplugs, dish towels (here they use terry towels), warm clothes, and swimwear. | |
| 6. | Concerning art at this destination and where I visited the best exhibitions: |
| I arrived in mid-August, still during the summer break of the art scene – no exhibitions were open and no art events took place until early September. From mid-September onwards, the offer becomes very diverse and rich. The major art institutions are located close together: Kiasma, Amos Rex, and HAM (at the time of my stay partly showing the Helsinki Biennale). I particularly liked Gallery Hyppolite in the Design District, where I also saw the best exhibition. Nearby you can also find the Museum of Architecture and Design. The range of events in the art and discourse context is extensive – especially the University of the Arts and Publics organize many exciting local and international events such as symposia, lecture performances, artist talks, and presentations. What really deserves to be emphasized is the professionalism and dedication of the HIAP team. Residents receive weekly updates on openings, talks, symposia, etc.; the team is caring, informative, and communicative – a contact point for all matters and genuinely committed to supporting everyone’s needs. |
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| 7. | Around the studio – where I shop, drink my coffee, and get the best lunch deal in walking distance: |
| I’m not a lunch person, so that was never really an issue for me. On the mainland, Bruket near the Academy of Fine Arts/Uniarts in Sörnäinen is a good and affordable option if needed. Most museums also have small cafés or buffets. On Suomenlinna, especially in the warm season, Adlerfelt with its charming garden and fine dishes and Café Piper with its stunning sea view are worth a visit (note: very touristy and usually full!). | |
| 8. | Where I like to spend the evening (dinner, drinks, best sound and networking opportunity): |
| I mostly spent my evenings by the coast, sitting on the sun-warmed rocks and enjoying the atmosphere with a drink. | |
| 9. | What would have been useful to know before coming here and starting my residency: |
| Suomenlinna is a hyper-touristic hotspot – thousands of visitors come to the island every day. Relaxing walks are only possible from mid-September onwards, and the residential studios are quite sound-permeable. However, HIAP provided very comprehensive information before my arrival. |
Website resident: jade-enterprises.at