This exhibition is centered around the valuable personal collection of the first Finnish Ambassador to China, Mr. Cay Sundström, showcasing the artistic and cultural treasures he accumulated over the years through his cultural exchanges between China and Finland. The exhibition is not only a display of these exquisite artifacts but also a symbol of the long-standing friendship between the two countries. Ambassador Sundström, a witness to and promoter of cultural exchanges between Finland and China, has dedicated himself to fostering cooperation between the two nations in the fields of art, culture, and education. His collection serves as a testament to his deep emotional connection with China. With this as the starting point, the exhibition tells a story of Sino-Finnish friendship through the space and the collection, highlighting the fusion of the two cultures within the same time and space, while continuing Ambassador Sundström’s unfulfilled aspirations.

Drawing inspiration from Finland’s unique natural and cultural environment, we have selected three spatial archetypes: "Forest," "Mansion," and "Lake." The exhibition space is divided into three sections: "the Friendship Forest," "the Ambassador’s Reception Mansion," and "the Friendship Lake." These three distinct spatial elements are a condensation and reinterpretation of Finland, creating specific atmospheres that invite visitors to experience the "Finnish time and space" from thousands of miles away. The exhibition construction uses environmentally friendly materials such as "wood and paper," which serve as abstract visual representations of Finland’s forests, lakes, and estates. In addition, the exhibition also blends Finland’s natural elements with Eastern aesthetics, subtly expressing Eastern impressions through light materials and restrained textures, reminiscent of lanterns, scrolls, and bamboo forests…

"The Friendship Forest" is the opening chapter of the exhibition, where light, shadow, and sound create an immersive experience, filtering out visitors’ distractions and allowing them to deeply engage with the atmosphere of the space. During the design process, the Finnish embassy’s Cultural Counsellor shared a touching story about Moomin, a beloved Finnish animated character, and his friends searching for glowing jewels in the forest. This romantic expression of friendship deeply moved us. Inspired by Moomin’s story, we translated the Nordic coniferous forest into the space by constructing several cylindrical structures of varying sizes using wooden frames and semi-transparent DuPont paper. Inside each structure, a point light source is placed to symbolize the glowing jewels hidden in the tree trunks, representing the shared friendship between China and Finland. In this artificial forest, sound installations play the natural sounds of Finland, such as birdsong, flowing streams, falling leaves and flying snow. Visitors can sit quietly, listen attentively, and immerse themselves in this dreamlike microenvironment. In the "Clearing in the Forest," an art installation by Finnish artist Teemu Määttänen is displayed. This piece combines light and sculpture, creating a dialogue across time and space between contemporary art and the traditional Eastern artifacts in Ambassador Sundström’s collection.

"The Ambassador’s Reception Mansion" is located between the forest and the lake and is the core area of Sundström’s collection, which reimagines and recreates his living space. We drew inspiration from traditional elements of Finnish estates, such as the proportions of doors and windows and arched structures, and similarly used wooden frames and DuPont paper to construct the space. The room is lit with evenly distributed light sources, simulating an imagined foreign estate. Upon entering, visitors encounter layouts and displays of a living room, reception area, and study, offering an immersive exhibition experience that reflects the Ambassador's life. The reception area showcases a large number of ancient Chinese art pieces and antiques collected by Ambassador Sundström between 1953 and 1959. Traditional Chinese antique furniture is displayed alongside classic Nordic design products, creating a subtle resonance between Eastern and Western cultures in the exhibition.

As the final section of the exhibition, "The Friendship Lake" focuses on screening of the documentary about the history of Sino-Finnish diplomatic relations, with the design intention of evoking the feeling of watching a film by a lakeside. Finnish ice lakes are clear and tranquil, and the key design challenge was how to simulate this sensation in a limited space. Ultimately, we chose small glass beads to represent this ambiance. The transparent, pure colors and high-density particles of the glass stones recreate the serenity of the ice lake. Visitors entering this space can almost feel the chill of Nordic air, immersing themselves in an ethereal, man-made natural atmosphere. Seated by the "lake," visitors can watch the documentary or, like the Finns, face nature and contemplate quietly.

These precious exhibits allow visitors to gain a deeper understanding of the diplomatic history between China and Finland while experiencing the beauty of cultural differences and art across time. The design of the entire exhibition space combines the restrained elegance of Eastern aesthetics with the tranquil natural beauty of Finland, connecting visitors and transcending the boundaries of time, geography, and culture. This creates an unparalleled exhibition experience. This exhibition is not only a feast of art but also a testament to and celebration of the cultural integration between China and Finland.

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