‹ Takaisin

Today on Women’s Day, we wish to share a few memories from the grand opening of the “I was born a girl” exhibition, with art and poetry about UN declared women’s rights by the amazing Finnish artist Minna Kristiina Pietarinen.

We have been blown away by the warm reception and wonderful feedback about the exhibition. The joy of reaching a global audience for this incredibly important subject - gender equality - cannot even be put to words. The heart and soul that Minna puts into her art and poetry has spoken directly to the hearts and souls of those whom it has reached. The endless admiration for her courage, as she has opened the greatest wounds of her life, in order to help others, has been shared with many - and the words from many Mexican women who approached us at the opening saying “You speak of my life, thank you for putting it into words!” has proved the need for openness and honesty about difficult and painful subjects. “I am so impressed and taken by Minna’s powerful art and words, we must get this exhibition to Sweden,” said the Ambassador for Sweden in Mexico, Gunnar Aldén, among many other similar reactions.

We were humbled to read the poem “We must not forget” to the Ambassador of Ukraine in Mexico, Oksana Dramaretska, written by Minna for the painting of the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska to highlight the right for peace and security. And we were incredibly honored to receive a video message by President (2000-2012) Tarja Halonen with an open invitation to our exhibition.

We are overwhelmed with gratitude to the wonderful Ambassador of Finland in Mexico, Päivi Pohjanheimo, who from the beginning offered her help to bring this important subject to light, as it is both close to her heart and also a truly Finnish value. She, together with her amazing team at the Embajada de Finlandia, México - Suomen suurlähetystö Meksiko, have given us more help and support than we could have ever hoped for. A very special thanks to Hanna Öunap and Arja Perälä, not only for their hard work but for the love and care they put into this whole process.

 

 

We are eternally grateful to Alejandra Gómez Colorado, Director of the National Museum of World Cultures Museo Nacional De Las Culturas Del Mundo.,cd De Mexico. in the historic centre of Mexico City for opening their doors to this wonderful museum and for all the incredible help and support by the entire team.

 

We would also like to thank all of the amazing panelists at the event previous to the opening, organized by the Embassy of Finland in Mexico and UN Women Mexico, specifically to Belén Sanz, representing ONU Mujeres México; Nadine Gasman, President of Inmujeres México; Guillermina Pérez/actriz, Coordinator of Child Cultural Development at the Secretaría de Cultura and Claudia Benítez, Executive director for Una Vida Libre de Violencia at the Secretaría de las Mujeres CDMX.

 

We were truly honored to be accompanied by the Finnish Ambassador for Culture and the Creative Industries Paula Parviainen at the opening as well as the Ambassador of Mexico to Finland, Enrique Rojo Stein, the Ambassador of Austria in Mexico, Dr. Elisabeth Kehrer and many many more of our ambassadors colleagues in Mexico as well as our dear friends from near and far, who came to accompany us.

 

We thank you deeply for all your support and as a gift to all women in the world we share with you the virtual “I was born a girl” exhibition, hoping it will reach the hearts and souls of many women who can find hope and consolation in Minna’s beautiful art and poems. 

 

And last but not the least, we challenge you all, men and women, to do your part for gender equality - from which everyone in the world will benefit!