An Encounter With the City

A personal meeting with a city that continues to fascinate me—
with its colors, shapes, movement, and silences.
Not a home like Turku,
but more like an old friend I don’t see often…
and who always manages to surprise me.

I came here from the Latin world.
There’s color, curiosity, and longing in my gaze—
a desire to see beyond the surface.

I’ve walked Helsinki’s streets many times,
with a camera in my hand and my heart wide open.
This time, I wanted to paint what words couldn’t say.

My works combine different techniques and bold hues.
I chose scenes where I personally encountered the city:
– arriving at night from Suomenlinna,
– the Three Smiths statue and the railway station, like stamps of time,
– the Sibelius Monument, where metal and paint speak together,
– summer movement and light along Esplanadi,
– and a quiet building in the night,
its window glowing warm—like a memory.

There is still so much I haven’t painted yet.
Much more lies ahead.
But this is a beginning.
The beginning of an encounter.

Welcome to see Helsinki…
through my eyes.

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WELCOMING REFLECTIONS

I arrive from the hush of a historical island.
Now, Helsinki stands before me—alive with light, color, and reflections.
This city doesn’t stay distant.
It lights up to receive you.
These aren’t just lights you see—
they are arms, reaching to embrace you.

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A LIGHT IN THE WINDOW

The summer night isn’t dark—
it whispers details too subtle for a rushed heart.
This building stands still,
but its lit window speaks, gently yet clearly:
“I’m still here.”

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UNMARKED DEPARTURES

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THE SONG OF METAL

A melody without notes.
Sibelius doesn’t appear in the photo—
but you can feel his breath here.
The metal isn’t cold—it sings
when the light touches it just right.
This isn’t just a sculpture.
It’s a chord still resonating.

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TOWARD STILLNESS

This street doesn’t shout.
It invites.
Step by step,
something rises from the cobblestones—
light, form, a quiet celebration.
You’re not there yet,
but you’ve already arrived.

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DANCE OF A SUMMER DAY

Helsinki doesn’t stop here—
it sways, breathes, laughs.
Shadows play at your feet,
and flowers eavesdrop on conversations.
Everything moves,
and still—
everything holds still for a heartbeat.

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SUOMENLINNA & ME – A Personal Postcard

I’m not a tourist, though there’s a camera in my hand.
I didn’t come to conquer, though I touched the chains.
I came to see… and found myself.
This island isn’t just history—
it’s a mirror, an echo,
a way of hugging myself when I feel lost.
Suomenlinna welcomes me without hurry,
as if it always knew I would come.
So I stay.
For a moment more.
For another life.

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Thank you for looking through my eyes.
I hope to see you at my very first exhibition in Helsinki.
My heart is wide open,
the colors still fresh…
I’m waiting for you.

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