KUKKA HARVILAHTI
PORTFOLIO
Naëmi & Vapaamieli
"FLORENTITIS"
Naëmi & Vapaamieli
Florentitis (n.): A mind-and-body-encompassing, irresistible longing to live on Flores Island, never to leave.
We are an artistic duo living, working, and creating on the breathtaking island of Flores. Our art is deeply inspired by the forces of nature, mysticism, and the sense of community we cherish here.
Through our work, we explore the miracles and challenges of daily life and the cycles that shape our existence. These themes are woven into the fabric of our music and poetry, brought to life visually through our music videos.
Flores Art
We have developed a body of work comprising music, poetry, and videos—all created on Flores.
While our primary languages are Finnish and English, we also make our work accessible in Portuguese, with subtitles currently available and plans to include spoken translations for our poems in the near future.
Our Flores portfolio includes three completed music and poetry videos—Unieni Ruhtinas (The Lord of My Dreams), Olen Etsinyt Jumalaa (I Have Been Searching for God), and Tiny Beings. Our upcoming and most ambitious project, Bodhisattva, will serve as the grand finale of this series.
"The lord of my dreams"
This song, which some Azoreans have likened to traditional Azorean folk music, delves into themes of mysticism, the psyche, and the dreamworld.
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Filmed in the serene landscapes of Alagoa, the video pays homage to the awe and reverence we hold for nature.
"Your tender eyes, see the all
all that is, free from the worldy mirage
Sealing within itself
the nature of reality."
"the time of dreamscapes"
Drifting between memory and imagination, this audiovisual piece invites you into a world both foreign and deeply familiar.
It is a meditation on movement and stillness, on longing and belonging.
"Because one does not need to traverse the world to grasp its soul.
It is enough to hear the rain’s steady rhythm and feel an unbearable yearning for something unknown."
"I have been searching for god"
This piece is a biographical poem and musical composition that chronicles a personal journey of seeking meaning.
Filmed on Flores by Andreia Luis and Kukka Harvilahti, the video captures the island’s mystique and the introspective themes of the work.
"I’ve scoured the shadows for god,
as a mere shadow, myself,
that light casts beyond form.
A mirage of the mid winter sun.
As night falls
I dissolve into all that is."
"Tiny Beings"
An ode to the unseen life that surrounds us, this video celebrates the natural mystery of non-human existence.
The accompanying poem emerged from a meditative practice of macro photography, where the smallest plants and insects revealed a hidden world of intricate beauty.
"I looked at my reflection on a dew drop,
touched the silky hair on a plump green leaf,
said good morning to a crawling friend -
I could not count the legs."
CURRENT PROJECT
Bodhisattva
This piece explores the accumulation of wisdom and life experience on individual journeys, which, when shared, contribute to the collective good.
Filmed on Flores in May–June 2024, Bodhisattva will feature a diverse array of local and regional talent, including a Flores-based aerial photographer, a filmmaker from Terceira, professional actors, and community members as assistants.
The video’s imagery will invite viewers to reflect on inner growth, shared experiences, and the joy of community. With nine voices from our community woven into the song, this will be our most ambitious project to date.
