FINNISH TWIST AT SOUTHBANK CENTRE'S WOW FESTIVAL: Nutty Tarts, Baby Box and talk about equality

This year's Women of the World Festival celebrates Finnish achievements in equality and feminism with highlights from Monokini 2.0 by Nutty Tarts art collective and the author of The Nordic Theory of Everything, Anu Partanen. The WOW Marketplace also showcases the Finnish Baby Box over the festival weekend 8-12 March at London’s Southbank Centre.

The Finnish art collective Nutty Tarts is presenting their art project Monokini 2.0 - Who Says You Need Two? The Story of Art and Social Impact Coming Together as part of the WOW Bites programme Saturday 11 March. Monokini 2.0 is the brainchild of artists Katriina Haikala and Vilma Metteri (Nutty Tarts) – and based on the original idea by Elina Halttunen, ‘the woman with one tit’. The multidisciplinary artists, Katriina Haikala and Vilma Metteri have been collaborating since 2007 under the name Tärähtäneet ämmät / Nutty Tarts. Their agenda has been to provoke public conversations that challenge the prevailing power dynamics in society. Their disruptive artwork has received worldwide attention from the international media.

"Like the WOW Festival, Monokini 2.0's ethos is for everyone. Even though the project dances around the topic of breast cancer, it speaks for all the women out there - we all are influenced by the unrealistic body and beauty ideals that are created by the beauty and fashion industry. Monokini 2.0 empowers women to feel great about ourselves no matter the way we look or the obstacles we are faced with. We believe that with art you can create meaningful public conversations, social movements and social impact!”, says Katriina Haikala.

Anu Partanen, author of The Nordic Theory of Everything, is taking part in a series of panel discussions on gender equality over the festival weekend. Partanen is a Finnish journalist now living and working in the United States. She has written for The New York Times, The Atlantic, Fortune Magazine, and major publications in Finland. Her book The Nordic Theory of Everything looks at the Nordic model on childcare, education and medicine versus ‘the American dream’.

PROGRAMME:

Nutty Tarts
WOW Bites Go Nordic
Saturday 11 March 2017 11:30-12:30
Venue: St Paul’s Pavilion, Royal Festival Hall (“the Venue” / “Concert Hall”)

Anu Partanen -
Women’s Day at WOW
Wednesday 8 March 6:30pm, Southbank Centre

WOW Bites Go Nordic
Saturday 11 March 11:30am, Southbank Centre

Gender Equality in the Nordics
Saturday 11 March 1:15pm, Southbank Centre

Heikki Tiittanen
Childcare Utopia
Sunday 12 March 1:15pm,
Venue: Weston Roof Pavilion, Level 6, Green side

The Finnish Baby Box is showcased at the WOW Marketplace at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall Friday and Saturday 10 and 11 March. WOW Marketplace has free entry and is open to public 10am – 6pm.

This year WOW festival will simultaneously land in Finland, thus marking the centenary of Finland's independence and women's strong role in society and public life.

Press pictures: HERE
Useful links: HERE
More info: info(at)fininst.uk