Sharing Inspiration

Double Happy is a publication born out of the collaboration between the young architects of the Newly Drawn programme and OK Do design think tank, covering Chinese and Finnish architecture, design, art, cities and lifestyle. The publication has been created in collaboration with Finnish, Chinese and international young architects, journalists, artists, photographers and designers.

The magazine will be published in Finland during Helsinki Design Week and will be available for purchase for example at Napa Books. The magazine will published in China with the Beijing-based Art&Design Magazine in November. The publication is divided into English and Chinese editions.

www.newlydrawn.fi , www.ok-do.eu

The theme of Expo 2010, ‘Better City – Better Life’, provides an opportunity to introduce the highlights of Finnish expertise in the fields of built environment and product design to the Chinese audience.

The Finnish participation in the World Expo and pavilion Kirnu bear the slogan ‘Sharing Inspiration’. Finnish companies have developed proven, innovative solutions for sustainable development, environmental friendliness, energy efficiency and well-being. The World Expo in Shanghai gives the possibility to showcase these solutions to a wide audience in one of the world’s key emerging markets.

The design exhibit at Kirnu has been designed by the Helsinki-based Muotohiomo design agency. The display is a diverse snapshot of Finnish homes and the daily life: the tour begins in the front hall and its furnishings, and continues through the kitchen and living room into the sauna – of course! The displays include accessories designer Aki Choklat’s updated take on the traditional felt boots as well as Iittala’s timeless tableware; world-famous tools from Fiskars; as well as items designed by Finland’s best-known contemporary designers Eero Aarnio and Harri Koskinen.

Finnish pavilion also highlights health and well-being, know-how, education and technology, with Nokia phones, as will Kone lifts as examples of technological achievements. Particular focus has been placed on well-being, and the special needs of children and the elderly. Finnish companies are world leaders in many fields, including dental care. In the exhibition, Chinese visitors will familiarize themselves with Finnish landscape, culture and the way of life via a huge interactive screen.

The outstanding quality of Finnish design has also brought Helsinki the honor of being chosen as World Design Capital 2012. The year’s theme will be Open Helsinki – Embedding Design in Life. The message is clear: in Finland, design is for everybody!

Nordic family films will hit the screens in Shanghai during June 14–20, when 12 Nordic feature films and one short film selected by the Shanghai International Film Festival selection committee are screened in the Best Nordic Family Film Showcase. The showcase is part of the special Global Village section of the Shanghai International Film Festival, dedicated to the ongoing Shanghai Expo. The showcase opens on Monday June 14 with the screening of the Finnish animation film Niko & The Way to the Stars by Michael Hegner and Kari Juusonen.

The showcase is organized by Scandinavian Films in co-operation with the Shanghai International Film Festival, and supported by Nordic Council of Ministers and Consulates of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden in China. Scandinavian Films is an umbrella organization of Danish Film Institute, the Finnish Film Foundation, Icelandic Film Centre, Norwegian Film Institute and Swedish Film Institute. Scandinavian Films will have a stand at the SIFF film market (June 14–16). The Nordic sales company TrustNordisk will also be present at the market.

www.ses.fi/en/

The first month of Finnish participation in the World Expo culminated in Expo’s Finland Day on the 27th of May. During the course of the day, the celebrations took over four stages inside the Expo area with performances ranging from heavy metal to contemporary circus.

The day’s events proved hugely popular and drew in the crowds to enjoy the wide array of entertainment. Europe Square outdoor festivities were attended by a record-breaking audience, making the concerts one of Expo’s most popular events so far. Stratovarius and Negative were joined on stage by Turisas, Kimmo Pohjonen, Verneri Pohjola Quartet and The Five Corners Quintet, as well as electronic music acts Villa Nah, DJ collective Top Billin and DJ Jori Hulkkonen. According to the Chinese Expo-organization, the Europe Square event was attended by over 20 000 persons.

Highlights of the day included also the Music Club performances by the Finnish National Ballet and contemporary circus duo Walo & Hakkarainen and the Finland Day gala collaboration of Marimekko and a Chinese dancer-choreographer Jin Xing.

Helsinki Nights -themed mini-festival kicked Shanghai nightlife up a notch with jazz, electronic music and heavy metal clubs electrifying the city on two consecutive nights.

On Wednesday 26^th May, Helfest bands Before the Dawn, Negative, Turisas and Stratovarius performed to sold out Mao Livehouse, delivering a stellar show of blazing guitars and vocal cord-stretching lyrics to local metal-lovers. The success of Helfest was repeated the following night at Xingfu Road clubs Dada, Logo and Anar with Finland’s finest Djs and electronic acts Renaissance Man, Jimi Tenor, Top Billin, Clouds, Desto, Jori Hulkkonen and Villa Nah taking to the decks. The electronic night lived up to its name, with the Hel Yes partygoers continuing the celebration until early hours of the next morning. The third edition of the festival clubs, the Helsinki Jazz night filled the shanghainese JZ club with the smooth tunes of Pekka Pylkkänen on Wednesday and Verneri Pohjola Quartet and The Five Corners Quintet on Thursday.

Photos: Hanne Granberg, Andrew Rochfort & Kim Laughton