“I didn’t fully understand the word ‘integrity’ until I moved here.”

Björk Hijoort’s story with Helsinki began by accident. Originally from Stockholm with Swedish and Greek roots, Björk came to the city en route to Amsterdam. For this artist and soon-to-be welder, a quick visit turned into something much more when the pandemic hit.

When everything shut down, Björk spent a lot of time walking around Helsinki, getting to know the city in a way that most visitors couldn’t. 

“It was an odd introduction, honestly. There were no people around, just empty streets,” she recalls. “But even then, I felt like I was getting a sense of the city. It wasn’t just the place, but the vibe of Helsinki that really got to me.”

Helsinki, a space for introspection, quickly became her creative haven. Björk has found Helsinki to be a paradise for introverts.

“I ended up staying, and I think it was meant to be. You feel connected but unbothered at the same time. People here respect solitude. I feel extremely safe here to be who I am, and that’s not something to take for granted.”

This peaceful atmosphere is exactly what Björk was craving as an artist. “Things are allowed to take time here,” she continues. “As a creative, that’s rare in today’s fast-paced world. People really value honesty, and that makes the art here feel raw and real.”

Breathe and take your time 

One of the things that stands out for Björk is how the city’s seasons shape everything.

“The winter here is inspiring. The way everything quiets down, the intensity of summer fades, and you’re left with a peaceful, almost melancholic atmosphere.” 

Björk mentions a particularly magical place to experience, Hietaniemi Cemetery.

 “It’s so beautiful, no matter the season. It’s one of those places where you can just breathe, walk around, and feel the history around you,” she explains.

For Björk, her connection to Helsinki is as much about the environment as it is about the people. That has influenced Björk’s current project: a stop-motion film that’s a prequel to her first one. She’s still playing with the visual ideas, experimenting with color palettes and the overall feel, inspired by the winter darkness.

“In stop-motion, every frame is like its own painting. It’s really about trial and error, and I love that.”

Humbled by the sea

The first thing that stood out to her was the city’s proximity to the sea. She mentions Uunisaari Island, a place where you can step away from the city and feel the vastness of the sea.

“I’m in love with how nature is part of the city. The way you can feel the ocean breeze — it’s powerful. It’s like the force of nature humbles you, and it’s exactly what I need as an artist.”

Helsinki’s architecture has also left a mark on Björk. She talks about the Helsinki Cathedral as a source of inspiration for her work.

“That church is so monumental. It stands out against the city, and it has this weight to it, like it’s watching over everything,” she says. “I’ve never even been inside, but I think it’s the presence of it that influences me more than anything.”Her fascination with architecture also led her to start capturing the city’s unique doors.  There’s a quote from Finnish architect Alvar Aalto saying “The door handle is the handshake of the building.” It’s clear that  Björ feels the weight of that sentiment in Helsinki’s historic buildings.

“When I first came here, I actually spent a whole year taking photos of doors and gateways around Kruununhaka. I think I have a whole folder on my phone dedicated to them,” she laughs. “There’s something so characterful about the old doors here—they tell their own story.”

What about Björk’s advice to anyone thinking about coming to Helsinki?

“Just get over here. It’s a hidden gem that you have to see for yourself. You won’t get it until you’re here, but once you do, you’ll get it if it’s meant for you.”

Step into Björk’s Helsinki: Take a walk through Kruununhaka and admire its historic doors and gateways. Visit Uunisaari Island for breathtaking sea views and reflection or just simply stare at the magic of Helsinki Cathedral and Hietaniemi Cemetery.