Introduction:

"This blog is not necessarily for lovers of art, it includes a variety of topics and whatever. I'm a painter who likes to know what's really going on in the world today. So you might find anything from Shamrocks to Salmiakki mentioned here on my blog. There will of course be some boring, factual and informational posts, but I'll keep them to a minimum, I promise!

And I might get a bit nostalgic now and then.

So you have been warned!"


- Alan Hogan



Showing posts with label Helsinki. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Helsinki. Show all posts

Sunday, December 17, 2017

My Finland 100 : 61- 70







Finland became an independent state on 6 December 1917. Already there have been numerous events staged throughout the country to celebrate this centenary year. The theme of the centenary year is ‘Together’. 


As I have been a resident of Finland for the past ten years I wanted to do a little something. For this I decided to post 100 images to my Instagram account on social media with the hashtag #finland100_igchallenge .




Anyone familiar with the Instagram application will be aware of the vast amount of wonderful photography posted every day online. There are so many amazing images to be found featuring Finland's stunning nature and landscapes. I imagine my photography may be lack lustre in comparison and as a result may not be noticed. So I decided to simply look closer in and around my new home for another approach. I have posted a variety of images found around my own house and neighbourhood. I didn't know much about Finland before I moved here, so I view this as an opportunity to show others a few things I discovered about or associated with Finland and it's culture. I have included everyday items, nostalgic items, locations, food and also some Finnish-themed artworks which I painted myself while living here. In other words, a bit of everything!!




The images are in no particular order of importance or preference, so I'll continue with 61-70...






61/100
Big rocks like the one shown here are a common sight in Finland. They were left over from the ice age. In fact the rock shown here is one of the smaller ones.

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62/100
...'Thoughts of summer' (acrylic on canvas). a finnish summer house in Prรคstkulla Finland which i painted in a dreamscape of summer colours.

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63/100
.. If you ever visit Helsinki check out the city's superb Jugendstil architecture. My favourite area is Katajanokka where I took these photos. (click on left of photo for more images)


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64/100
...the small town of Ekenรคs in Finland has a pole where they lock the necks of any Irishmen who don't pay for their beer, as demonstrated here by myself and my cousin on a recent visit.๐Ÿบ๐Ÿ˜„ It's called the 'Shame Pole'. ..It was once used to punish criminals in the old days.
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65/100
...flashback friday, hanging out with football fans from local Karis club BK-46 during the summer. The best of Finland! ⚽๐Ÿ˜Ž๐Ÿ‘ 

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66/100
.... 4 words: Finland, Metal, Cello, Apocalyptica!
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67/100
.. a glowing Helsinki Cathedral overlooks the Christmas market in Senate Square this weekend.

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68/100
... wall tapestry from Finland,... red christmas lights from Dunnes stores (switching on shortly)

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69/100
..'just had a night visit from this little guy asking me to put up my Christmas tree and some lights asap.๐ŸŽ„ He's called a Tonttu/Tomte here in Finland and he's a wannabe mythological creature from Nordic folklore who appears every Christmas. I tried to keep him quietly in the kitchen as I have another small mythological creature from Irish folklore hidden in the livingroom. He's fast asleep now and won't wake up until mid-March. So, i'd better get moving and keep this Tontuu happy or he might wake up old grumpyhead! ๐Ÿ˜ฏ

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70/100
...'travelling by boat from Dublin to Liverpool I once found myself surrounded by young Irish football fans with bleached hair and this guy's name on their jerseys. Probably the first Finnish name many Irish people will mention when asked to name a famous Finn. Absolute legend for Liverpool and Finland! ⚽๐Ÿ˜Ž๐Ÿ‘ (click right side of photo for more images) #samihyypia

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1- 10

11- 20

21- 30

31- 40

41- 50

51- 60

61- 70

71- 80

81- 90

91- 100

















Share this blog!







Thanks for reading my blog and please feel free to share it with any of your friends.








- Alan









 

Monday, December 11, 2017

My Finland 100 : 41- 50







Finland became an independent state on 6 December 1917. Already there have been numerous events staged throughout the country to celebrate this centenary year. The theme of the centenary year is ‘Together’. 


As I have been a resident of Finland for the past ten years I wanted to do a little something. For this I decided to post 100 images to my Instagram account on social media with the hashtag #finland100_igchallenge .




Anyone familiar with the Instagram application will be aware of the vast amount of wonderful photography posted every day online. There are so many amazing images to be found featuring Finland's stunning nature and landscapes. I imagine my photography may be lack lustre in comparison and as a result may not be noticed. So I decided to simply look closer in and around my new home for another approach. I have posted a variety of images found around my own house and neighbourhood. I didn't know much about Finland before I moved here, so I view this as an opportunity to show others a few things I discovered about or associated with Finland and it's culture. I have included everyday items, nostalgic items, locations, food and also some Finnish-themed artworks which I painted myself while living here. In other words, a bit of everything!!




The images are in no particular order of importance or preference, so I'll continue with 41-50...






41/100

The sandwich cake! .. the smรถrgรฅstรฅrta can be found at many celebration parties throughout Finland. This savoury dish has been perfected in Finland, as shown here by a great chef from Bromarf! These two sandwich cakes were made specially for my birthday and were delicious! ..Thanks Tanja!! ๐Ÿ˜Š๐Ÿฐ

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42/100
'Autumn Birches' (acrylic-on-canvas) #finland100_igchallenge 42/100
..posting a series of random images (including some of my own art) from or associated with Finland to celebrate the country's 100th birthday! ...'probably should've posted this earlier, all the leaves have fallen at the stage! ☺๐Ÿ

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43/100
..late night snack! A national dish of Finland 'The Karelian Pie'! ..yum!!
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44/100
...in Finland you're never too far from nature. I took this photo only 2 minutes from my house today. ๐ŸŒฒ๐ŸŒฒ๐Ÿ๐ŸŒฒ
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45/100
..I was never too fond of mustard back in Ireland except for a tiny bit of Colmans on a toasted ham & cheese sandwich. But the mustard in Finland is more to my liking, especially 'Turun Sinappia' on makkara (finnish sausage).

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46/100
...these ABC service stations are everywhere in Finland, at least everywhere I've travelled. They're a one-stop shop for petrol, grocery shopping and dining! ๐Ÿš˜⛽๐Ÿš˜๐Ÿšš๐Ÿš• ... 'took this photo at my local ABC today!
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47/100
...a painting of a house in my neighbouring town of Ekenรคs in Finland. 'The Green House' (acrylic-on-canvas), ...well it was green when I painted it! ๐Ÿ˜€๐ŸŽจ
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48/100
.. a crafty old Finn I once knew handcarved these butterknives from old juniper wood. Some say Santa Claus started this tradition but these ones are definately the upgrade! .๐ŸŽ…..
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49/100
...as world leaders in coffee consumption Finland needs to have the best coffeemachines! That's why you will find one of these in most Finnish households, the 'Moccamaster'. I have this Ferrari red model and it makes an amazing brew! Although the machine is made in Holland I regard it as a part of my Finnish experience! ๐Ÿต
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50/100
... throwback Thursday ..the beautiful Havis Amanda photographed last summer in Helsinki.

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Click below for more:

1- 10

11- 20

21- 30

31- 40

41- 50

51- 60

61- 70

71- 80

81- 90

91- 100


















Share this blog!







Thanks for reading my blog and please feel free to share it with any of your friends.








- Alan









 

Sunday, December 10, 2017

My Finland 100 : 31- 40







Finland became an independent state on 6 December 1917. Already there have been numerous events staged throughout the country to celebrate this centenary year. The theme of the centenary year is ‘Together’. 


As I have been a resident of Finland for the past ten years I wanted to do a little something. For this I decided to post 100 images to my Instagram account on social media with the hashtag #finland100_igchallenge .

Anyone familiar with the Instagram application will be aware of the vast amount of wonderful photography posted every day online. There are so many amazing images to be found featuring Finland's stunning nature and landscapes. I imagine my photography may be lack lustre in comparison and as a result may not be noticed. So I decided to simply look closer in and around my new home for another approach. I have posted a variety of images found around my own house and neighbourhood. I didn't know much about Finland before I moved here, so I view this as an opportunity to show others a few things I discovered about or associated with Finland and it's culture. I have included everyday items, nostalgic items, locations, food and also some Finnish-themed artworks which I painted myself while living here. In other words, a bit of everything!!

The images are in no particular order of importance or preference, so I'll continue with 31-40...




31/100

...old Finnish currency!
This is 20 Finnish Markkaa featuring Finnish author Vรคinรถ Linna, best known for his novel 'The Unknown Soldier'.

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32/100
...Typing Thursday!! ...some Finnish retro...the complete typing course on vinyl!! ๐Ÿ‘
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33/100
... I got to see some of Akseli Gallen-Kallela's work at the Kalevala art exhibition in Helsinki a few years ago. Definately my favourite Finnish artist and this book has a nice selection of his paintings. Click the right side of this photo to see more images.
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34/100
.. Finland has the highest amount of metal bands in the world per capita, and Children of Bodom from Espoo are one of their best. I'm no connisseur of the genre but I do like this album! (plus it came with a free tattoo!! ๐Ÿ˜€๐Ÿ‘Œ

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35/100
...Sibelius Sunday! ...listening to Finland's greatest composer.

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36/100
Finnish rye bread!! ๐Ÿ‘ ...I wasn't too fond of this when I first arrived in Finland, but now I love it! ...plus it's healthy!! ✅
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37/100
..a common find in Finnish homes is the Savoy Vase, designed in 1936 by Alvar Aalto and made by Iittala. ...all i need now are some sweets to fill it! ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿ˜€
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38/100
..definately my favourite Finnish sweets, Marianne are made by Fazer of Finland!!! If you like chocolate in a peppermint shell then these are for you!!! ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฌ
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39/100
..Hard Rock Halloween!! ๐ŸŽƒ .. Eurovision got it's big porcelain teeth knocked out by Mr.Lordi from Finland! ๐Ÿ˜„๐Ÿ‘Œ

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40/100
..someone once told me the name of these neat little retro door-fittings but i forget now. Press the button and open sesame!
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Click below for more:

1- 10

11- 20

21- 30

31- 40

41- 50

51- 60

61- 70

71- 80

81- 90

91- 100







Share this blog!



Thanks for reading my blog and please feel free to share it with any of your friends.



- Alan


 

The Art Garage, Finland

The Art Garage, Finland
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