30 years of Finnland-Institut: “Working here allows me to feel connected to both cultures”
The Finnland-Institut celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, Pinja Saarela sat down with the Institut’s director, Mikko Fritze, and his assistant, Suvi Wartiovaara, for a conversation about literature, the future of the Institute, and – of course – saunas. They both agreed on one thing: every day at the Institute is a celebration in itself!
Pinja: To start, could you each describe what your roles at the Institut entail?
Mikko: Oh, I have quite the versatile role. We are a team in which each of us takes on a wide range of tasks and everyone supports each other. I feel good about this approach, as it guarantees plenty of variety. As my title indicates, I’m the director, so I need to be involved in decision-making, or at the very least, I should understand the reasoning behind the decisions being made. And there are plenty of such decision-making situations. I’m also often the one who represents the Institut at various functions: receptions, premieres, openings and meetings. While they can be very interesting, they can also occasionally feel tiring and tedious. Two or three times a year I get to travel to Finland for work, and those trips are always fantastic!
Suvi: I have two distinct roles: primarily I assist the Institut’s director, a role that covers a wide range of responsibilities depending on who’s in charge. As an assistant I work behind the scenes and ensure that everything is moving forward smoothly, as if “on its own”. Because I’ve been a part of the Institut since its establishment, I consider myself something of a “repository of knowledge” when it comes to cultural and scientific projects or various customs and networks. My second area of responsibility, which is particularly close to my heart, is the planning and coordination of our literature programme.
Pinja: Mikko, before joining the Finnland-Institut, you worked at the Goethe-Institut for over 25 years. You mentioned that you were already familiar with the Finnland-Institut back then. What sparked your interest to work here?
Mikko: I have a deep personal connection to both Finland and Germany, feeling truly at home in each. They are both my home countries. Having the opportunity to build, strengthen and create connections between these two countries is like a dream come true. I also hadn’t lived in Germany for decades and missed it. So the position in Berlin was a perfect fit! During my 25 years at the Goethe-Institut, my family and I relocated six times, moving from one country and culture to the next. It was all extremely interesting but adapting to a new environment again and again required a lot of effort. I must admit that at a certain point I no longer had that kind of energy. In this role, I feel at home in the cultures of both countries.
Pinja: Suvi, the Institut is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. You’ve been part of the team since its establishment in 1993 – do you have a favorite memory from all these years?
Suvi: Since I’m responsible for the literature programme, most of my favourite memories are tied to the annual Leipzig Book Fair. The Finnland-Institut has attended the book fair for 25 years already – first by itself and later in cooperation with the Nordic Embassies in Berlin, as well as with the Finnish Literature Exchange (FILI) or German publishing houses. Due to the pandemic, the book fair had to be cancelled three years in a row. When the book fair was finally able to take place again in spring 2023, we were happier than ever to welcome back eager literature lovers to the Nordic Forum and of course to our events with authors and their translators, both at the fair and in the heart of Leipzig!
Pinja: Mikko, you were born into a German family in Tampere, Finland, where you also spent your childhood. And you, Suvi, are a certified translator and have been living in Germany for 30 years. You both share a strong connection to both German and Finnish culture – I’m curious to know, what similarities do you see between Finns and Germans?
Mikko: There are a bunch of similarities, such as the shared love for music, theatre, literature and nature, especially forests. Finns and Germans are also united in their appreciation for orderliness and in fact, many Germans still think to this day that nobody does it better than them. Additionally, both have a habit of establishing rules even for the most mundane matters – though Finns believe only Germans are like this. They also share a similar challenge in adapting their culture to the changing world, particularly when it comes to issues like immigration.
Suvi: Communication skills are valued in both countries, although they are interpreted in quite different ways. While Finns and Germans respect straightforwardness and honesty, Germans are more likely to share their opinions openly and without being asked. In contrast, Finns tend to be rather reserved, only voicing their opinions when directly asked. However, it’s important to keep in mind that there are differences within each country. Originally from Helsinki, I’m used to living in a capital city, which makes living in Berlin easy for me. Many Berliners view their city as the centre of the universe, and it’s easy to see why – Berlin is truly fantastic. No wonder I feel so at home here.
Pinja: The Finnland-Institut also has its own library with books in Finnish, German and Swedish. Do you have any book recommendations?
Mikko: Oh sure, a bunch of them. Finnish literature is diverse and prolific, covering far more than just the Finnish narrative. It’s truly world-class. Feel free to come browse through our library – both our team and I will be happy to share our recommendations!
Suvi: Among my favourite Finnish authors are Olli Jalonen and Kjell Westö. Both have excellent German translations of their books available, too: Jalonen’s books are translated by Stefan Moster, and Westö’s by Paul Berf. When it comes to children’s books, I always recommend the Tatu and Patu series by Aino Havukainen and Sami Toivonen, as well as the works of Mauri Kunnas.
Pinja: Mikko, you’re known to be a huge sauna fan. You were even involved in building a Finnish sauna on the site of the former Monopol Distillery in Berlin-Reinickendorf. What does a successful sauna evening look like to you?
Mikko: First and foremost, you need a good sauna – one where you can throw the water on the rocks yourself, with enough air and heat. Just as important are the people you go to the sauna with. I enjoy sitting in the sauna and having good conversations, but sometimes it’s nice to just enjoy the peace by myself.
Pinja: What can we expect from the Finnland-Institut in the future? Are there any specific plans or projects you would like to carry out?
Mikko: I’d like to cover the topic of forests as diverse and current as possible. Additionally, I want to focus more on Swedish-speaking Finland through artistic and scientific means, as it is both interesting and fascinating, but not yet very well known in German-speaking Europe.
Suvi: Our collaboration with the Museum of European Cultures (MEK) focusing on Sámi culture will certainly continue in the future. The subject is so vast that I imagine we will be working on many more projects together in the coming years. I also hope that literary projects, such as the collaborative project It’s Finland again! launched by FILI, will achieve long-term success. Additionally, I look forward to the continued Nordic collaboration at both the Leipzig Book Fair and the Buch Wien literature fair in Vienna.
Pinja: One last question for the both of you: can you reveal how the Finnland-Institut will celebrate its 30th anniversary?
Mikko: We chose not to have a single big celebration but rather to designate the entire year as the celebration. However, we did organise several major events to mark this significant occasion, including the German premiere of the late Kaija Saariaho’s final composition, ‘Hush’, at the Berlin Philharmonic. Finland’s Minister of Culture, Sari Multala, will also be attending.
Suvi: Every day at the Finnland-Institut feels like one continuous celebration this year! We owe this to our many long-standing partners, visitors, and contributors from the fields of culture and science. Not to forget everyone who has worked with us over the years – whether permanently, as an intern, or as a volunteer. To me, celebrating means recognising all the individuals and institutions that have made this journey possible.
Pinja: Coincidentally, the Finnland-Institut is the same age as me, the interviewer. What words of wisdom would you like to pass on to the 30-year-old Institut or to me as an intern?
Mikko: Stay aware and curious. Be ready to see and experience new things!
Suvi: Believe in your dreams, wherever you are!
Translation from Finnish: Ida Piri