Minna Henriksson is a visual artist based in Helsinki, working with various artistic medium. She stayed with Godzilla in Mariehamn.

During the Godzilla residency she revisited a work that she made in May 2024 titled ‘Zeitenwende‘, having an added focus on the Baltic Sea and Åland. Zeitenwende refers to a famous speech by the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz just a few days after Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine. Literal translation of the term is ‘times-turn’, and it marked a new era of increased militarisation of Germany, and with that of Europe. Her performative lecture took place at the Sjökvarteret Museum in Mariehamn, and it also included a workshop with the audience about possible future scenarios.

Her relationship with the Baltic Sea has deep roots. – “I grew up by it, the first 11 years in a small fishing village along the Bothnian Bay. My parents were members in the local Sea Rescue Association, and we spent a lot of time out in the sea and on small islands outside of Oulu.”

Henriksson is fascinated by, and concerned about, the migratory fish, such as salmon, trout, whitefish and European eel, that live in the Baltic sea and go up to the rivers to reproduce. “Unfortunately, they are becoming extinct much due to damming most of the rivers.”