Kaisa Vuorinen / Patverums

Necklace: Silver, amber, gold-plated

Earrings: Silver, amber, 14k gold, gold-plated

Ring: Silver, amber

We had many conversations about different topics. You shared that amber is important in Latvian culture. You also explained that nature-related themes, like birch leaves, linden flowers, and wheat stalks, are closely connected to Latvian culture, and the linden tree symbolizes a young woman in Latvian poetry. Nature-related themes are also important to me. You mentioned that you have two homelands: Latvia and Finland. You feel like you're in the right place, surrounded by people who care about you. You specifically mentioned three people who have supported and helped you in Finland. In the Patverums jewelry, three pairs of wings protect the amber.

Kaisa Vuorinen / Sirdsmiers

Pendant: Silver, amber, rock crystal

Earrings: Silver, amber, rock crystal, 14k gold

Pendant art piece: Silver, amber, rock crystal, linden branch

Rings: Silver, amber, rock crystal

We discussed many different things. You shared that amber is significant in Latvian culture. You also mentioned that nature themes like birch leaves, linden flowers, and wheat stalks are closely tied to Latvian culture, and that the linden tree symbolizes a young woman in Latvian poetry. Nature-related topics are important to me as well. You said that you have two homelands: Latvia and Finland. You feel you’re in the right place, surrounded by people who care about you. You especially highlighted three people who have supported and helped you during your time in Finland.

The concept behind the Sirdsmiers jewelry is three rings of different sizes forming a heart around a central amber or rock crystal bead. We realized we live in the same neighborhood in Helsinki. The linden branch in the Sirdsmiers art piece was picked from Alppiharju, our shared neighborhood. The piece was inspired by your Finnish teacher, who taught you that small, kind actions can have a big impact on someone’s life. "Sirdsmiers" means peace of mind.

Ita Petrika-Lindroos

I moved from Latvia to Finland at the age of 19 in 2009. At the time, I was figuring out what I wanted to do with my life. My brother, who lived in Finland, invited me to come, and I was eager to embrace this exciting new life. I spent the first year and a half living in Kouvola, studying Finnish full-time. During this time, I also began my journey into working life, getting my first jobs as a waitress and cleaner while studying.

About a year after moving, I met a Finnish man who later became my husband. I moved in with him in the Helsinki area, applied to a university of applied sciences, and started my studies in 2011. In 2015, I graduated and got my first job in my field as an assistant. Since then, I have been working, transitioned into HR, and built my career as an HR professional. In 2022, I earned my master’s degree—my journey of learning and development is ongoing.

For me, equality means understanding and compassion. My life philosophy is that everyone should have the opportunity to express themselves and create a life that reflects who they are, no matter where they live.

Someone who moves to a new country brings with them valuable experiences, skills, and different perspectives. These should be appreciated, and I believe Finland loses out if these talents and experiences are not utilized simply because the person doesn’t speak Finnish.

At the same time, learning Finnish and fully immersing myself in Finnish life and culture helped me create a life I am proud of. That’s why I always tell other expats that, in my opinion, learning Finnish is one of the keys to success—not just the language, but also embracing the culture.

Today, I can genuinely say that I have two homelands. I care about what happens in Finland. I care about who wins the presidential elections. I care about Finland's foreign policy. I care about who Finland sends to Eurovision. I love Finnish food. I read books in Finnish. I’ve read The Unknown Soldier. I love Finnish summer days and complain in winter about the lack of sunlight. In my heart, I am both Latvian and Finnish, and that will never change.

I see myself as a sister, wife, aunt, friend, HR professional, mentor, and colleague. My family lives in Latvia, and I love Latvia, but at the same time, I have built a life in Finland and have gained family members and dear friends here as well. I’ve noticed that others see me as Finnish, and sometimes new acquaintances are surprised to learn I’m not Finnish—they say I speak and act like a Finn.

My journey in Finland hasn’t been easy—I’ve experienced unemployment, along with the anxiety and depression that comes with it. I’ve faced disappointment from dishonest employers. I’ve felt exhaustion, fear, and uncertainty. But what has given me strength is the feeling that I am in the right place, surrounded by people who care about me. My success has been the result of hard work and determination, but I could never have done it alone.

My brother, Nauris, gave me the opportunity to come to Finland and provided me with a home while I studied Finnish.

My husband, Perttu, made it possible for me to start my university studies and build a career in Finland. You have always supported me, wanting me to be happy and achieve my dreams.

And my Finnish teacher, Tellervo, who took me under her wing when I was living in Kouvola, lost and unsure of my future. I have never met a more kind-hearted person than you. You taught me that helping others is the most important thing I can do. You also taught me that small, kind actions can change someone’s life, sometimes without us even realizing it.

That’s why I dedicate this exhibition to those people who have had such a significant impact on my life.