Aleksandria

The following 24 photographs made it to the final round before choosing the 18 that ended up as acoustic panels on the walls of the Learning Centre Aleksandria, University of Helsinki. If memory serves me well the panels were put up in late 2019.

The staff working in the building at the time were asked to choose their favourites – a total of three rounds from initial 30 photographs. Unfortunately I do not remember which are finals ones. Of course I could go and check, but the photographs are in offices and meeting rooms where people work. I pre-selected photographs mostly from Helsinki, since the facility is in Helsinki itself, just a stone throw away from the Cathedral which as you’ll notice is featured quite dominantly. I chose to throw in some photographs from other parts of Finland too, something tranquil, suitable for an office.

I cannot emphasise enough how proud I am having my art as huge photographs on the walls of Aleksandria work spaces, despite very little people having access to them and even less knowing about the photos – being mine for that matter. It would be interesting to see if and how those photographs are being perceived. Is there any quantifiable impact on people working there?

At the end of the page you’ll see a few shots from actual rooms with some of the photographs on the walls.

I used the following Wikipedia page Helsingin alueellinen jako as a source for the Helsinki urban burrows I use in the photographs’ descriptions.

Helsinki, downtown

Helsinki. View from above Kaisaniemi Park over Kallio, Sörnäinen and Vallila – comprising unofficial areas such as Siltasaari, Hakaniemi and Merihaka.

Photo taken 28.10.2018.

Helsinki. View over Helsinki harbour and the Uspenski Cathedral prominently in the foreground.

Photo taken 16.1.2018.

Helsinki. View over Kruununhaka, Katajanokka, Kluuvi, Kaartinkaupunki, Kaivopuisto and Suomenlinna in the back. In the centre is the cathedral and the city centre campus of the University of Helsinki with the buildings: Metsätalo, Topelia, Aleksandria, Porthania, main building and main library.

Photo taken 31.1.2018.

Helsinki. Harakkasaari. Harakka is located a few minutes’ boat ride away from Kaivopuisto, by the open sea and in the middle of the delicate nature of the archipelago. The richness of the island’s vegetation and bird population is unparalleled. There are four nature reserves on the island. ¹

Photo taken 30.1.2007.

Helsinki. Somewhat the same view as earlier but from a lower angle and in late autumn. View over Kruununhaka, Katajanokka, Kluuvi, Kaartinkaupunki, Kaivopuisto and Suomenlinna in the back. In the centre is the cathedral or the big white as I prefer to call it.

Photo taken 28.10.2018.

Helsinki. View over Kruununhaka, Kluuvi, Kaartinkaupunki, Ullanlinna, Kaivopuisto, Punavuori, Eira and Suomenlinna in the back. In the centre is the cathedral and prominently cutting through Kruununhaka is Snellmaninkatu (the street with the rails).

Photo taken 11.10.2018.

Helsinki. View over Kluuvi from the South. Other burrows visible are Kallio, Vallila, both Taka- and Etu-Töölö. Easily spotted are Senaatintori with the lights (Tuomaan markkinat) and in the back Linnanmäki – lit as well.

Photo taken 22.12.2017.

Helsinki, the Cathedral seen from Suomenlinna.

Photo taken 16.6.2007.

Helsinki. Suomenlinna ferry Tor plowing it’s way through the icy Helsinki harbour from Suomenlinna.

Photo taken 21.2.2007.

Helsinki. Bird’s-eye view onto Allas Sea Pool.

Photo taken 21.12.2017.

Helsinki. The Learning Centre Minerva in Kruununhaka with the emblematic owl. In the back are the high-rises in brutalist architecture style of famed Merihaka (Sörnäinen).

Photo taken 11.10.2018.