Day 040: Visitor / Urban spaces and art

Sunday is always a special day at Bobola since we have a great pleasure to welcome our professional guest. Today we are very happy to introduce our fifth professional guest Minna Koskinen. Minna is a multitalented professional, mother and a sunny architect working as an urban planner in Helsinki. She has promised to tell about her work and source of inspirations. Welcome Minna, we are so happy to have you here!

© Minna Koskinen

The text is a free translation of Minna’s original text in Finnish.

Dear readers of Bobola,

My name is Minna, I am working as an urban planner in Helsinki. I would consider myself as an observer. I enjoy observing our daily environments, social behaviour, buildings and the space in-between the buildings. As an urban planner my role is to be a negotiator, mediator, listener and a person inspiring other people. The role of an urban planner is eclectic and very inspiring. Urban planning is a lot about finding a good consensus of different voices, opinions and users.

My way to the current profession has been interesting. I have studied mathematics, art education, architecture and glass and ceramic arts. Combining and understanding big and small scales have always inspired me. I believe that even small matters can have a huge impact in the bigger picture.

“Different kinds of environments can be a great source of inspiration. This facade of a wooden house caught my attention the other day on a daily walk with the pram.” © Minna Koskinen

We at Bobola asked three key questions from Minna:

”I am inspired by so many different things! Lately I have enjoyed having long walks in different neighbourhoods with the prams. Especially now that all the museums are closed and traveling is not possible, looking at the daily environments can be an inspiring way to get some new experiences. Quite often when I am walking around and something is catching my attention, I am wondering what are the elements that make me stop and observe the place or the spaces. Is it related to the size, scale of height of the place or the buildings around? Or maybe it is the nature or the lack of it? Maybe the materials, sounds or sometimes incompleteness of the place makes me stop. “

”In the future I shall keep on observing the surroundings of ours with the same enthusiasm and interest as I have done so far. I try to keep in mind the importance of the smallest scales in the urban planning process.”

”The most important thing to me in the urban planning context is that the cities and urban spaces are various and unique and that not everything is build and planned at the same time. I always try to leave some space for the future developments in my plans.”

“During my free time I am very happy to visit all different kinds of art exhibitions and museums. These exhibitions for example have provided some new interesting perspectives to various worlds.” Images are from museums around Helsinki. Photos taken from HAM, Sinebrychoff Art Museum, Ateneum and Amos Rex. © Minna Koskinen

“ I am very lucky to be working as a urban planner in such an inspiring city as Helsinki is. IThere are so many inspiring areas in the city both old and new. These pictures are taken from the capital region that can always offer some new areas to explore.” © Minna Koskinen

“Visiting new cities and different kind of environments helps to see and think of optional ways to solve and organize urban structures. These pictures are taken from different cities I have been lucky to visit and explore.” © Minna Koskinen

“ Visiting different cultures and countries opens up our perspectives. Travel memories from China.” © Minna Koskinen

The activity of the day:

I am always very interested in visiting different exhibitions and museums. Due to the current unfortunate situation all the art institutions are closed, but luckily in Helsinki we have a lot of art available in the urban contexts as well. Have you ever made an art tour in your neighbourhood or in the different parts of the city? Have you noticed the urban sculptures or some urban paintings? I have been extremely inspired by the urban art wall in Suvilahti, Helsinki. It is an evolving art wall for graffiti artist to paint and show their talent. Urban art exhibited in a right way can provide possibly a lot of joy for the citizens. Graffiti art as well done in the right and legal places can be a good way to show another kind of form of art for the inhabitants of the city. Helsinki Urban Art brings art into the urban environment and into people’s lives. More information of their activities can be found from http://www.helsinkiurbanart.com/. They are providing guidelines to experience urban art in different areas of the city for example.

“Suvilahti urban art wall in Helsinki is an evolving platform for graffiti artists to paint and exhibit their art. It’s been very interesting to follow it especially now that all the museums are closed.”© Minna Koskinen

Have you ever thought being an urban artist? How would your urban art look like? Do you happen to have drawing chalk home? Maybe you could make a great piece of art on the asphalt? I have collected some inspirational pictures for brainstorming of possible expressions for street art. Would these paintings and works of inspire you? Or what would be the best source of art for you? How is your drawing looking on the asphalt?

Have a great day exploring urban art around you and also experimenting with drawing chalks your own street art. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a temporary street art exhibition on your home yard? Have a great day and remember to keep your eyes open! Urban spaces are such inspiring environments to experience and see something new!

All kinds of art works can be a source of inspiration for Urban art. By googling you can find a lot of inspirational visual material that could give you a starting point for your own urban art project. Have you ever seen paintings by Hilma Af Klint or Sam Vanni? I found soft textiles also very inspiring. Do you know artist Uhra-Beata Simberg-Ehrström, who’s beautiful tufted wall rug is in one of the images. What is your source of inspiration?

Enjoy your day! Urban art can be found in many places and in many formats! Keep your eyes open, it can be a great adventure!

Dear followers we want to remind you that parents assume all responsibility for the safety of their children in these activities.

♥ - Team Bobola -