"And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul." - John Muir. 💚
Just a little selfie on my way to Nautela Rapids in Lieto, Southern Finland. There's a pretty little nature trail my grandparents used to take me to as a little girl. Now their health doesn't allow them to hike there anymore, but my camera can function as their eyes.
If you're in Southern Finland, you should go to the forest, too! The mushrooms are finally popping up! 😍
Fun fact: Did you know that you can make jelly candies out of mushrooms? 🍄
This Pseudohydnum gelatinosum (🇫🇮 orahytykkä) is edible, but doesn't taste like much. The fun part is the texture! One common English name for it is "cat's tongue", and when you touch it, you can understand why. Here in Finland people used to soak them in blackcurrant juice, roll them in sugar and then offer them to visitors as homemade marmelade candies. 😄
Have you ever tried eating them? Let me know if you have, I'd love to hear your thoughts! 💚
Pretty excited about my next solo exhibition - this time in #Helsinki! 😍
Saara Alhopuro
Forest whispers a story
At RUPLA 2.-29.9.2019
Opening 10.9. 18:00-20:00. Warmly welcome! 🍄 "Dive into a fairytale, where Finnish forests and mushrooms tell old stories, myths and folktales. Saara Alhopuro is a land artist and photographer, whose studio is the forest. She uses wild mushrooms and other foraged materials to create colorful installations, which she leaves in the forest for random passers-by to discover.
The original pieces wither, but before they do, Alhopuro gives them a new life through photography. With her photos she tells magical stories from times, when fairies and gnomes reigned in the forests.
Alhopuro’s work has reached the eyes of over one million people across social media and it has been featured in 20 languages in media around the world. “Forest whispers a story” is her first private exhibition in Helsinki." (Link to the event in my profile.)
When forests are too dry for mushrooms, I like to pick up other things I find - like crow feathers and fox sculls - and use them to create wearable art. 💚
This headdress I crafted for a dear friend of mine, who is as interested in Finnish shamanism and mythology as I am. If you're going to @burningman next week, you may see him wearing it. 😊
Go say hi, if you do! And ask him about his scientific project #burningstories. You can find him and other Finnish burners at @saunaonfire. 🔥 You may find my mushroom art around there, too... 😉
