Book Presentation: Häme 1918 - The White Cottage's Son

Heikki Niemeläinen presents his book Häme 1918 - The White Cottage's Son.

The work examines Captain Hans Kalmin's white battalion during the civil war, the disputed events at Harmois Hospital in Kuhmois, and the war's impact on people's lives and art. The book reveals new information about Lauri "Tahko" Pihkala's role in the civil war and the events at Harmois Hospital. It also explores tensions that Tove Jansson addressed in her art: in the 1942 painting "Family", a chess game between whites and reds is underway, and Jansson appears to have provided her answer in the 1953 altar painting in Teuva Church.

Heikki Niemeläinen (born 1960) holds a doctorate in economics and is a researcher specializing in historical source materials. In his previous book Tove and Maria's Meilahti - On the Map and in City Hall, he combined the historical context of Tove Jansson's art with the personal history of Maria Åkerblom, examining the residences of Finland's political elite.

The event features photographs from the exhibition held in Harmois in summer 2026, which can be viewed in the event space from 4:30 p.m. before the presentation.