In case you didn’t know yet, Celle, in northern Germany, is one of Hämeenlinna’s Partner Cities.

This year the BBK-Celle (Visual Artists’ Association – Celle), which I am a member of, choose as Theme “Das Format Der Ewigkeit” (THE FORM OF ETERNITY) for it’s Summer Exhibition, which opened on Mai 5th, and will be running till July 7th. in the Gotische Halle in Celle’s Castle.

What an interesting, and complex Theme, don’t you also think so?! 

Which form has the Eternity?! Does it have a form at all?!?!?

How to work under such a theme?!

Time was one of the often used subjects throughout must of the works in this Exhibition. As in the aging process of nature and human beings; as the fraction of time needed to get eyes opened to look at a (contour-less) Future; as the brevity of everything, but also as Life-cycles. 

Which color has the Eternity?! 

Going through the exhibition, on could say it is BLUE! Blue as in the Skys, as in the Seas, as a background or as an accent color. 

I myself, would guess White is the color of Eternity. But, honestly I wouldn’t know why!

Would a War represents Eternity?! Or actually it represents Brevity?! 

Or the Hope of freedom, which is within all Wars is what represents Eternity?! 

Again something to think about!

Paintings, graphics, drawings, photographs, as well Sculptures and objects were the media used bei BBK’s visual artists to show the results of their considerations/thoughts/feelings regarding the Eternity and its forms. If you are spending some time of your summer in Germany , check it out!!! The exhibition is totally worth to visit!!

Why am I writing an article about BBK-Celle’s Summer Exhibition?! 

First of all, because two years ago at this time, a couple of Finnish visual artists were not only participating with their works in the Summer Exhibition in Celle, but also some of them came all the way from Hämeenlinna to join us here. It was a great exchange between colleagues, and friendships were born at that time. 

Last year, we (visual artists from Celle) joined our colleagues in Hämeenlinna, participating in their Summer Exhibition. Also, a couple of us (including myself) spent somedays there. Again: What a great exchange!!! 

But also due Cultural and Political Exchanges happening between Sister Cities (Partner Cities) people come together, false ideas and prejudices get cleared, minds and borders get opened. 

I had no idea about Finland, even less about Hämeenlinna… thanks to this partnership between Celle and Hämeenlinna, I researched about country and city, but was staying in  Hämeenlinna that gave me the opportunity to get to know a little bit more about traditions, ways of life, weather, food.. and so on. 

Interactions with peer artists as well as with representatives of cultural institutions in the city, with locals and also with participants of the workshop about Colors and Forms, I guided together with Minttu Saarinen, had shown me we had much more in common than I thought. 

Ok, now you are thinking I am flatting the differences ….No, I am not. 

If we talk about workshop’s attendees, I would say their colors were less playful; their forms more nature-related; their hues darker than mine. But the openness to try the boldness of warm colors, to dare breaking the chain between brain and hands, and at the end having created amazing pieces of works, made clear that differences are there to be understood, accepted, (sometimes) challenged and assimilated. 

I had seen these same differences when looking at works of Finnish peers in both our collective exhibitions (in Celle and in Hämeenlinna). Their works were more serious, maybe be even more meaningful and with stronger narratives than mine. Talking to many colleagues during my stay in Hämeenlinna, seeing their relationship to environment/nature,  but also experiencing the weather (!!) made me realize how amazing the Finnish way of doing art is.

I wish more people could be involved in getting to know about their Partner Cities. Associations need to get funded to be able to invite partners, as well as to visit them. 

We should not forget that cities are made by and of people, they are the ones able to engage with each other, make friends and share their culture, thoughts, hopes, expectations.

Three weeks were not a lot, but were already enough for me to want to have more of Hämeenlinna. I am coming back this Summer (already my 3rd time visiting), and am pretty eager to learn more about this amazing city!

Hope to see you guys in July!

You can read about Kelynes work more from here.