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ratings: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Genre: Art / Urban Studies / Travel / Finnish Culture

Book Review:
Kimmo Pälikkö's Helsinki Helsingfors is a beautiful and poignant love letter to a city. For over two decades, Pälikkö has been painting and drawing Helsinki, capturing its essence as it changes and evolves. This book collects his work, offering a unique artistic record of Finland's capital. What makes this book special is its focus on what has been lost. As Pälikkö notes in his introduction (presented in Finnish, Swedish, and English), ''Helsinki has changed even in this short time. As some powerful new design captivates the viewer, he tends to forget what the place looked like before.'' This book is an act of remembrance, preserving the ''vanishing city'' that exists only in memory and art. The paintings themselves are lovely—evocative, atmospheric, and filled with affection for their subject. They range from iconic landmarks to quiet street scenes, capturing the light, the architecture, and the mood of Helsinki through the seasons. Maps help readers locate the scenes, adding a documentary layer to the artistic project. For anyone who loves Helsinki, or who appreciates cityscapes as an art form, this book is a treasure. A beautiful tribute to a beautiful city.