Baring All Another exciting week in Helsinki, I've made sure I've been quite active with my time to see/do as much as I can while here. The weekend involved visiting some really cool galleries, one of which had a little area where you could make something out of clay and stick on a peg on the wall. I made the impaled ratmouse creature (seen below) made in a moment of bloody inspiration.

Sunday hailed a trip to a photography exhibition which I was rather stunned by. One exhibit was a tiny kitchen that had been built up with hundreds of photos showing the tiny details- each teaspoon on the draining board contained a little something, a chess board with glass pieces with people's photos embedded, each floor tile a photo of a pattern... that's just the beginning. It's indescribable. The artist is Hyäryllistä if you happen to see the name around.

Another name is Jari Silomäki. An exhibit of a collection called Weather Diaries, where he has taken a photo every day for the past few years and used those when events of personal or world significance to create a diary, which had surprisingly stunning effects. Take a look here: Jari Silomäki

Anyway, work continues it's randomness, but I do like it in the office there, it has a good vibe. I guess my Finland Saga will be put up properly when I get home and have time to write it. At the moment, snatches of what I'm up to will appear on here I suppose! The main features of my week have been nakedness, of the public vartiety.

Yes, I went all Finnish and decided to take advantage of the free sauna in my apartment building, and learnt how to sauna properly from an experienced Finn. I felt really invigorated and cleansed afterwards, so I may keep it up at home! In Finland, anytime they can get naked, they do, so I didn't wimp out and cover my delicates with a towel, I went in and did it properly. Liberating!

Nakedness II: today I went to the public pool still in it's original twenties style. Sooooo nice, and swimming naked is highly recommended. I think I'll return to England a nudist at this rate, I've certainly gained more respect for my body and it's public exposure!

Nakedness III: not me this time, but noticed some people in an apartment across the road (and railway line) from me seem to enjoy nakedness a lot too. Yesterday they were eating dinner in the nude, tonight, ironing! Ouch.

Right, enough boring waffle, it's late here and I have work in the morning. Moi moi!

Posted: 28-04-05 20:47 :: Permalink: http://ben.corale.co.uk/archive/v1/129.html

Comments Use the form at the bottom to post your comments. Here is the feedback:

Richard writes Your first sauna? You're a big boy now. Growing up. Like a... bog boy. I walk around naked anyway, I know of it's liberating powers. It just happens to lock you up too. Commented: 29-04-05 02:25

The blog author writes Not my first sauna, but my first one in Finland. I've never liked them before as I found them too hot and too dry. I've been informed if you're not enjoying it, you're not doing it properly- but now I know the best way to sauna, and it's relaxing and very pleasant. The nakedness is a must. Everyone, to the nudist colony!

[ If someone appears on Crimewatch in a couple of weeks' time as a perpetrator of nakedness in public swimming pools, it could well be me. Be warned :) ] Commented: 29-04-05 07:33

Richard writes That's very odd. Just read that as if I hadn't before... then saw my comment. I seem to remember being *very* drunk that night. Oh well. Commented: 03-05-05 22:27