YLE’s World Ladies in Suomenlinna

A couple of weeks ago, Johanna, who works on subtitles for YLE, gave me a call to ask about a few terms. It brought back memories of filming the World Ladies episode three years ago in Suomenlinna, on a hot late summer day. The episode is now set to air on Yle Teema in Finland!

Last night, we curled up on the couch with the family, wrapped in a blanket, to watch the episode. It was especially fun to see it with subtitles. It truly was a joy to be part of the Danish Verdensdamerne production. I had the opportunity to share my glass art and create a piece using the graal technique. It was also a pleasure to spend the day with such wonderful women: Lotte Freddie, Bente Scavenius, and Merete A. Baird.

Behind the scenes there were a few variables at play. A group of rather determined wasps had decided to throw a full-on convention at Glass Studio Hytti. I had just managed to evict an entire wasp colony from the space about half an hour before filming began; while, of course, keeping my hair neatly in place. Multitasking at its finest.

At the same time, I was arranging the studio so that the guests' beautiful outfits wouldn't get dirty and the camera crew would have enough space to move around comfortably. Everything had to function smoothly in a very hot summer setup.

Luckily, I wasn't alone. My assistant Alex was a huge help, mainly responsible for keeping everyone hydrated in the summer heat and capturing some behind-the-scenes moments for social media. We might have served spruce shoot drink and Karelian pastries. 

I had also carefully planned the route in Suomenlinna to minimise walking, since the terrain can be quite challenging and the hill leading up to the studio is surprisingly steep. The best solution, in the end, was a traditional arm-in-arm approach. My goal was simply to make sure our guests could relax and enjoy the experience without any unnecessary hassle.

The episode also offers a broader glimpse into Helsinki's cultural landscape. They buzzed through the Marimekko store and the Alvar Aalto House, both beautifully representing different facets of Finnish design. My Savonian heart especially warmed at the moment when the ladies got to taste kalakukko at the Market Hall; Emmi Koralainen presented this pride of Savonia with great style! In addition, Antti Taipale took the group to a proper drag show, which was absolutely brilliant; and the performance even made it into the headlines of Iltalehti the following week.

And in the end; despite everything, everything went well. The filming was successful, the atmosphere stayed warm (both literally and figuratively), and even one of my artworks travelled out into the world with the lovely ladies. I also gave them drop earrings as a keepsake. They were stylish, intelligent, and equipped with a great sense of humour. There were also two wonderful cameramen and a producer who shared stories about their previous adventures! At some point in my career, I also want to become a World Lady, travelling to all kinds of fascinating cultural destinations with friends. Such an amazing concept!

"Nordisk minimalisme og flammende glas i Helsinki / Pohjoista minimalismia Helsingissä" offers an interesting glimpse into Helsinki's art scene. It was wonderful to be part of this production and to present both glass art and Suomenlinna to an international audience. After the series, there have even been visitors in Suomenlinna from Denmark. The people at the summer shop were wondering why on earth especially Danes had started asking about Suokki glass!

I also added the World Ladies series to my own watch list and warmly recommend it to others as well. The episode can also be viewed on Yle Areena. The sculpture made is also on display at Taiko Gallery under the name Varjotyttö (Shadow Girl). Beneath the surface of the glass, there are multiple layers of visual worlds.