In August 2026, I worked for three weeks at the Our Air residency in Pietarsaari. I went there inspired by two things, the local luxury boat manufacturers and the fact that the area of Pietarsaari resembles the so-called blue zone – people live there for a remarkably long time. I combined these two things with my work-in-progress about finance Songs about Money and Debt, Communism and Solidarity, and the result was the street performance En sång om pengar och det goda livet / A Song about Money and the Good Life.

I wrote simple remarks and questions about complex issues on large text boards, such as “What is a good life? Can money buy a good life?” or “You can’t have enough of what you don’t need.” I dressed up as a sandwich man between the text boards and stood on the promenade at lunchtime. The sight probably confused passersby – I was advertising something but what, representing something but what, in any case I wasn’t selling anything. I was simultaneously an object to be looked at – in a small town, people look at me with curiosity and openness – and a subject to be spoken to – what is this about, what is my relationship to Jesus, etc. I also heard a few life stories, and it felt like people had no one to talk to. I don’t know if this will be reflected in any way in Songs about Money and Debt, Communism and Solidarity.

Photo: Rita Leppiniemi