Discover the beauty, joy and secrets of Finnish sauna culture

A project about Finnish Sauna Culture

Through this compound longterm project I aim to encapsulate and express the lively tradition, radical change and current reality of sauna bathing. Resisting the urbanization and technological penetration of the Northern European society, this tradition has
been lovingly maintained as island of original human interaction with nature and temperature. Joining the Finns in visiting saunas and following invitations to saunas all over the country I observed and experienced phenomena of public, private and countryside saunas. I have started the project in 2007 and it is my goal to share my observations and experiences in a visual and experimental analysis, articulate them in several publications, exhibitions and documentary films. 

Alexander Markus Lembke, 2018 

It’s no coincidence that I live in Tampere, Finland, the world’s sauna capital with over 50 public saunas. I work there as a sauna heater and sauna guide in the oldest public sauna in Finland and go to the sauna at least once a day. I am a member of the Finnish Sauna Society and have been intensively involved with Finnish sauna culture for over 15 years.

Through my work and my art, I want to help people from all over the world discover the beauty, joy and secrets of the Finnish sauna. I know the best saunas in Tampere and the region and many more and provide great sauna experiences by informing and sharing knowledge at a high level!

Please contact me for one of my customised authentic sauna tours for individuals and groups, where I give a real insight into Finnish sauna culture that goes far beyond normal tourist tours. It’s not just about a great sauna experience, but also about information and knowledge transfer at a high level.

A project about Finnish Sauna Culture

Through this compound longterm project I aim to encapsulate and express the lively tradition, radical change and current reality of sauna bathing. Resisting the urbanization and technological penetration of the Northern European society, this tradition has
been lovingly maintained as island of original human interaction with nature and temperature. Joining the Finns in visiting saunas and following invitations to saunas all over the country I observed and experienced phenomena of public, private and countryside saunas. I have started the project in 2007 and it is my goal to share my observations and experiences in a visual and experimental analysis, articulate them in several publications, exhibitions and documentary films. 

Alexander Markus Lembke, 2018 

Finnish Sauna Master 2024 from Rajaportti Sauna and the World Sauna Capital Tampere

A project about Finnish Sauna Culture

Through this compound longterm project I aim to encapsulate and express the lively tradition, radical change and current reality of sauna bathing. Resisting the urbanization and technological penetration of the Northern European society, this tradition has
been lovingly maintained as island of original human interaction with nature and temperature. Joining the Finns in visiting saunas and following invitations to saunas all over the country I observed and experienced phenomena of public, private and countryside saunas. I have started the project in 2007 and it is my goal to share my observations and experiences in a visual and experimental analysis, articulate them in several publications, exhibitions and documentary films. 

Alexander Markus Lembke, 2018 

Every year for the past 24 years, the Finnish Sauna Master Guild (Saunamestari Kilta ry) has elected a new Saunamestari (Sauna Master). This year, on the 20th of July, during the Ikaalinen Saunafestival, I was elected by the guild as the first non-Finn and in my position as the heater of Finland's oldest public sauna, Rajaportti.

I am very happy to join this great team of some of the best sauna experts in Finland and to help preserve, explore and spread the authentic Finnish sauna culture everywhere.

The tasks of a sauna master are many and important, but waving a towel around the sauna is not one of them.

A project about Finnish Sauna Culture

Through this compound longterm project I aim to encapsulate and express the lively tradition, radical change and current reality of sauna bathing. Resisting the urbanization and technological penetration of the Northern European society, this tradition has
been lovingly maintained as island of original human interaction with nature and temperature. Joining the Finns in visiting saunas and following invitations to saunas all over the country I observed and experienced phenomena of public, private and countryside saunas. I have started the project in 2007 and it is my goal to share my observations and experiences in a visual and experimental analysis, articulate them in several publications, exhibitions and documentary films. 

Alexander Markus Lembke, 2018