Days of Helsinki in St Petersburg
from 5 October 2011 to 2 November 2011
Exhibition in Peter and Paul Fortress features photographs by Signe Brander, works by the "Woodism" art group, and presentation of the project "Design From & For Kids".
Peter and Paul Fortress, Engineers' House
The exhibition within the frames of «Days of Helsinki in St Petersburg» includes works by Finnish photographer Signe Brander and pieces of furniture by Finnish designers.
Photographs by Signe Brander from the collection of Helsinki City Museum were shot from 1907 to 1913. This period in the city history was marked with rapid development and change of the city’s architectural appearance. Photographs by Signe Brander capture disappearing features of old Helsinki: wooden houses, cozy courtyards with storehouses and sheds, which were later replaced by new elegant masonry structures. Photographs of the coastal districts of Helsinki are exhibited as well. Signe Brander was interested in the daily life of Helsinki: her photographs show local citizens, children selling flowers, street guardians, first electric trams and many other things that became an important part of the city life.
Works by the “Woodism” art group are exhibited in Peter and Paul Fortress within the frames of the “World Design Capital Helsinki. 2012” programme. The group brings together designers and woodcarvers, who create furniture from the trees, fallen in parks and courtyards. Their main idea is respect for nature. The projects incorporates the cities of Helsinki, Lahti, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen .
The third section of the display is called “Design From & For Kids”, and shows the results of the children’s educational project. Within the frames of this project pupils of art schools were offered to design convenient and interesting furniture, which was then manufactured in the joiner’s shop in Lahti.
