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When is now? 11.10.2019–19.1.2020
HC Berg 7.6–22.9.2019
An exhibition that uses light and optical illusion, featuring works that highlight both a sense of immateriality and physical mass. The artist’s sculptures and reliefs play with the limits of sensory perception, challenging traditional ways of seeing.
Salla Tykkä 8.2–19.5.2019
The first extensive retrospective of works by the internationally renowned artist Salla Tykkä in Finland. The cross-cutting themes of the exhibition include gaze, power and gender, examined through video and photography.
Vincent Moon & Priscilla Telmon – Híbridos, The Spirits of Brazil 15.3–9.6.2019
An ethnographic study of the diversity of rituals and sacred music in Brazil, blending different film genres. Through sound, rhythm and movement, the film installation provides visitors with an experience that engages every cell of the body.
Tuomas A. Laitinen – Habitat Cascade 14.6–25.8.2019
The exhibition continues Laitinen’s research into multi-species coexistence. The artist explores the interconnectedness of different life forms and their porous coexistence. In this exhibition, an octopus, a cephalopod, serves as a guide for contemplation.
Civil War 5.10.2018–13.1.2019
The exhibition uses contemporary art to explore past and present armed conflicts and their impacts from the perspective of war victims. Artworks by Finnish visual artists addressing our civil war are presented next to pieces by prominent international artists reflecting on current conflicts.
Featured artists: Adel Abidin, Francis Alÿs, Candice Breitz, Kaisaleena Halinen, Ismo Kajander, Harro Koskinen, Heikki Marila, Anssi Pulkkinen, Hodhayfa Salih, Paavo Räbinä, and Juha Welling.
Simo Helenius 9.6–16.9.2018
A retrospective view of the sculptor’s production, spanning six different decades. Alongside wooden and concrete sculptures, the exhibition showcases vibrant pieces crafted from synthetic leather, inspired by pop art.
Hertta Kiiski and Jenna Sutela 9.6–16.9.2018
In their approach, the artists’ interconnected exhibitions highlight the concept of collectivism, encompassing not only cooperation between people and artists, but also collaboration across disciplines and even between species.
Hertta Kiiski works with photography, moving image and space – oftentimes involving her own daughters in the process. Jenna Sutela’s tools include words, sound and living material.
Hannu Väisänen – The Four Rooms of Anna Akhmatova 9.2.–20.5.2018
The exhibition focuses on the life of Anna Akhmatova (1889–1966), a Russian poet who inspires Väisänen. Her life underscores the enduring tension between censorship and the freedom of expression. The artist’s latest paintings, photographs, videos and installations are on display.
Bodybuilding 20.10.2017–14.1.2018
The multisensory exhibition brings together images of the body, featuring contemporary artworks that explore the practices of body representation, bodily experience and identity.
Artists: Artor Jesus Inkerö, Essi Kausalainen, Reija Meriläinen, Sini Pelkki & Jani Ruscica, Aurora Reinhard, Iiu Susiraja, Niina Tervo, Masi Tiitta, Anna Torkkel, Salla Tykkä.
Jacob Hashimoto – Giants and Uncertain Atmospheres 9.6–24.9.2017
In addition to large-scale spatial installations made from kite-like elements, the exhibition features Hashimoto’s wall reliefs, which blur the line between painting and sculpture in their visual effect.
Wäinö Aaltonen and 100 Years of Independence 13.1.–7.5.2017
Wäinö Aaltonen Museum’s 50th Anniversary Exhibition explores Finland’s era of independence through the work of the museum’s namesake, sculptor Wäinö Aaltonen. Together, Aaltonen’s major works, lesser-known pieces, and the ideological and historical context of his time offer a reflection on Finland’s national identity and the idealised images once used to shape it.
Touko Laaksonen – Tom of Finland. Of Music and Men 13.1.–19.3.2017 (Studio)
The exhibition presents the life of Touko Laaksonen, also known as Tom of Finland (1920-1991), both before and after he adopted his pseudonym. The focus is on the artist’s personal, music-filled life, presented through photographs and excerpts from his letters.
Art, Religion, Power 15.9.-11.12.2016
The exhibition, created in collaboration with the Museum of the History of Religion in Turku’s twin city, St. Petersburg, offers the public an opportunity to explore the complex interaction between art and religion under varying political and societal conditions. This diverse exhibition features over 230 artworks and objects.
Wild Strawberries 10.6.–21.8.2016
The summer exhibition, Wild Strawberries, curated from the Turku City Art Collection, explores themes of nostalgia and the significance of place: the fleeting nature of memory and the fickleness of recollections. The exhibition seeks lost time – a patch of wild strawberries – through sculptures, installations, paintings, prints and photographs by more than seventy artists.
Featured artists: Wäinö Aaltonen, Vesa Aaltonen, Anna-Maija Aarras, Erika Adamsson, Martin Ahlström, Lauri Ahlgrén, Martti Aiha, Pekka Airaksinen, Anne Alho, Jan-Erik Andersson, Kristoffer Albrecht, Willy Baer, Lauri Astala, Esa Blick, Hans-Christian Berg, Jim Cave, S. Bondor, Juhana Blomstedt, Annika Dahlsten, Henry Edman, Radoslaw Gryta, Juha Allan Ekholm, Jenni Hanhilammi, Saija Hairo, Matti Helenius, Mauno Hartman, Mikko Hietaharju, Harry Henriksson, Kerttu Horila, Kati Immonen, Juha-Pekka Inkinen, Tiina Ketara, Juha Joro, Manno Kalliomäki, Tapio Kinnunen, Johanna Koistinen, Harro Koskinen, Ritva Kovalainen, Markus Lampinen, Armi Laukia, Veikko Laukkanen, Teija Lehto, Sami Lukkarinen, Pentti Lumikangas, Antti Maasalo, Marita Mikkonen, Jukka Male, Marika Mäkelä, Arno Rafael Minkkinen, Leo Niemi, Antti Nieminen, Kimmo Ojaniemi, Nisunen & Grönlund, Paula Ollikainen, Johannes Paavola, Jaana Paulus, Zoltan Popovits, Laila Pullinen, Jorma Puranen, Jaakko Sievänen, Jari Silomäki, Kim Simonsson, Gunnar Smoliansky, Minna Sjöholm, Ulla Söderholm, Laila Säilä, Hannu Säilä, Heikki Tyynysniemi, Tiina Vainio, Kalervo Valli, Hannu Väisänen.
Saara Ekström – Alchemy 5.2.–24.4.2016
In the cinematic exhibition with a distinctly suggestive atmosphere, time immerses the viewer in its dimensions. The artworks in the exhibition explore the significance of transformation, questioning our values and the ways we structure and evaluate both materials, images and artworks. Most of the photographs, video works and installations were created specifically for this exhibition.
Ismo Kajander – Anartist 23.10.2015–17.1.2016
Produced by the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, the exhibition is presented at WAM in a broadened format, featuring new works. The retrospective showcases Kajander’s comprehensive and innovative artistic production over the years, developed outside the mainstream art world.
Heikki Marila – Flowers and Devils 12.6.–6.9.2015
Consisting of abundant flowers, religious motifs, maps and self-portraits, the exhibition showcases Marila’s expressive paintings, which reflect his interest in the relationship between images and the environment, as well as in visual traditions.
Sample. Contemporary Painting from Turku 20.3.–24.5.2015
A fresh, diverse, and representative sampling of what is currently exciting in new painting from Turku. The artists were given full freedom and the chance to focus on what feels most urgent and meaningful in their work right now.
Featured artists: Erika Adamsson, Henna Aho, Kati Immonen, Erkki Nampajärvi, Elina Ruohonen, Jani Rättyä, Sirpa Särkijärvi, Tiina Vainio.
Sound, Image, Experience 5.12.–1.3.2015
The exhibition focuses on the interaction between sound, image and experience, inviting visitors to reflect on alternative ways of being and experiencing things. While most of the artworks on display are videos or experimental installations, the exhibition also features sculptures created using more traditional techniques.
Featured artists and groups: Risto-Pekka Blom, IC-98, Antti Immonen, Saara-Maria Kariranta, Hannu Karjalainen, Jouna Karsi, Juhana Moisander, Merja Nieminen & James Andean, Taneli Rautiainen, Hans Rosenström, Emma Rönnholm, Heidi Tikka, Videokaffe, and Kati Åberg.
Kaarina Kaikkonen – Time to Sprout 5.9.–16.11.2014
The exhibition showcases the artist’s work from her first paper and fibreglass sculptures created in the late 1980s to the series completed in spring 2014. Her large-scale landscapes, crafted from recycled textiles and pieces of clothing, reflect shared experiences within the family and, at times, the broader community.
Contemporary Art from St. Petersburg 13.6–17.8.2014
Over the past two decades, the liberalisation of the art scene has sparked parallel artistic movements within St. Petersburg’s visual arts community. This exhibition seeks to capture their crystallisations, offering a snapshot of the present while also hinting at potential future directions. The exhibited works are unified by a strong technical expertise grounded in traditional Russian art education.
Featured artists: Tanya Akhmetgalieva, Marina Alexeeva, Peter Belyi, Kirill Chelushkin, Dmitry Gretsky (with Evgeniya Katz), Anna ja Aleksey Gan, Vladimir Kustov, Gregori Maiofis, Igor Pestov, Vitaly Pushnitsky, Kerim Ragimov, Evgeny Yufit, Anya Zholud, and Nadia Zubareva.
The Adidas Man and the Strongwoman – Commenting the Present 14.3.–25.5.2014
The exhibition offers a glimpse into the changes in Finnish society and its environment, as well as the personal hopes and fears that shape our individual histories and reflect the harshness of the human experience. At the heart of the exhibition lies the resilience of being human, something that carries us through daily life and responds to the many roles and expectations we face at different stages of life. The artworks in the exhibition belong to the Turku City Art Collection. Created between 1996 and 2013, the majority were made in the last five years.
Featured artists: Anna-Maija Aarras, Erika Adamsson, Annika Dahlsten, Juha Allan Ekholm, Minna Havukainen, Aaron Hiltunen, Liisa Hietanen, IC-98 – Patrik Söderlund ja Visa Suonpää, Pekka Isorättyä ja Tea Isorättyä, Villu Jaanisoo, Ulla Jokisalo, Pekka Jylhä, Kirsi Kaulanen, Kaija Kiuru, Tiina Kivinen, Hilkka Könönen, Teija Lehto, Rosa Liksom, Ismo Luukkonen, Susanna Majuri, Heikki Marila, Eero Markuksela, Laura Miettinen, Umppa Niinivaara, Liisa Nikitin, Maritta Nurmi, Felix Nybergh, Kimmo Ojaniemi, Paula Ollikainen, Mikko Paakkola, Saara Pelkonen, Tamara Piilola, Merja Pitkänen, Laura Pohjonen, Jani Rättyä, Sampsa Sarparanta, Jari Silomäki, Kim Simonsson, Minna Sjöholm, Iiu Susiraja, Sirpa Särkijärvi, Juhana Tainio, Göran Torrkulla, Pauliina Turakka Purhonen, Anu Tuominen, Otto Turtonen, Virpi Vesanen-Laukkanen, Tiina Vainio, Jan Kenneth Weckman.
Outi Heiskanen – Travel Companions 13.12.2013–23.2.2014
The retrospective features an extensive collection of prints, sculptures and installations from different stages of Heiskanen’s career. Variations on a theme and shifts in context – hallmarks of the artist’s work – form the central thread of the Travel Companions exhibition.
Manno Kalliomäki – Images of the Time 27.9–24.11.2013
Featuring nearly 100 pieces, the exhibition offers a representative cross-section of Kalliomäki’s (1948–2005) artistic output across various stages of his career, including prints, photographs, drawings and spatial works. The artist’s production reflects a desire to challenge and expand the traditional boundaries of artistic expression.
Greatest of All is Love? 14.6–8.9.2013
The exhibition presents various reflections on love through the works of twelve artists. The earliest pieces date back to the late 1990s, while the most recent ones were created in the spring of 2013. The exhibition features paintings, photos, videos and installations.
Featured artists: Henna Aho & Ville Laaksonen, Tiina Heiska, Maarit Hohteri, Miikka Kiminki, Jaana Kirjonen, Markus Kåhre, Milja Laurila, Rauha Mäkilä, Anna Nykyri, Kaija Papu, Pasi Tammi.
Tuula Lehtinen – On Beauty 15.3.–26.5.2013
Tuula Lehtinen brings a rich variety of aesthetic nuances to the exhibition, exploring beauty from multiple perspectives. Most of the works are new, including mosaic pieces, prints, large, padded paintings and porcelain works.
Kuutti Lavonen ensemble | together 14.12.2012–24.2.2013
Religious and mythical themes abound in the exhibition of works by Lavonen, who is well-versed in the visual heritage of Italian and French Baroque. At the same time, the visual language of classical art extends into the present. The exhibition presents the artist’s latest works, created between 2011 and 2012.
Wha’? IX Textile Art Triennial 28.9–25.11.2012
The exhibition explores the current state of textile art, examining how textile materials and their often-associated traditional techniques are being employed in contemporary art. Produced in collaboration with Ornamo Art and Design Finland, the exhibition features works by a total of 46 artists.
Featured artists: Henri Ahti, Susanna Autio, Aino Favén, Tytti Götsch, Katri Haahti, Kaisaleena Halinen, Helena Kaikkonen, Aino Kajaniemi, Sirpa Karjalainen, Kirsi Kaulanen, Johanna Kiivaskoski, Kaija Kiuru, Inka Kivalo, Maura Korhonen, Hannele Kumpulainen, Raakel Kuukka, Marita Lappalainen, Minna-Maija Lappalainen, Salla Lehtinen, Maila Malm, Tiia Matikainen, Melek Mazici, Nina Nisonen, Maritta Nurmi, Merja Pitkänen, Ulla Pohjola, Silja Puranen, Anni Rapinoja, Tiina Ripatti, Heli Ryhänen, Piila Saksela, Susanna Sallinen, Ulla Sinkkonen, Pia Sirén, Ann Sundholm, Janna Syvänoja, Tuija Teiska, Anu Tuomi, Heli Tuori-Luutonen, Pauliina Turakka-Purhonen, Riitta Turunen, Hanna Vainio, Pirjo Valinen, Virpi Vesanen-Laukkanen, Ulla-Maija Vikman, and Kristiina Wiherheimo.
What a Party! Festivities and Festive Culture in Finnish Art 11.5–9.9.2012
The works on loan from museum collections and artists revolve around the external characteristics of festivities and the range of emotions associated with celebrations. Perspectives on Finnish festivities and festive culture from the late 19th century to the present day are presented through paintings, sculptures, prints, installations and videos.
Featured artists: Wäinö Aaltonen, Anna-Maija Aarras, Eino Ahonen, Sini Anttila-Rodriguez, Hannes Autere, Francois Boisrond, Stefan Bremer, Håkan Brunberg, Juha Allan Ekholm, Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Jiri Geller, Jaakko Heikkinen, Raimo Heino, Sussi Henriksson, Kerttu Horila, Petri Hytönen, Karl Em-manuel Jansson, Kari Juva, Kari Jylhä, Pekka Jylhä, Kaarina Kaikkonen, Manno Kalliomäki, Olavi Kaskisuo, Lea Kauppi, Pertti Kolehmainen, Jouko Korkeasaari, Inari Krohn, Hilkka Könönen, Ville Laaksonen, Milja Laurila, Henrietta Lehtonen, Liisa Lounila, Edwin Lydén, Jukka Male, Sakari Marila, Åke Mattas, Timo O..Nenonen, Antti Nieminen, Ron Nordström, Elena Näsänen, Jorma Ohenoja, Paula Ollikainen, Kalervo Palsa, Marjukka Paunila, Reijo Raekallio, Erik Rauthovi, Anna Retulainen, Elina Ruohonen, Matti Saanio, Yrjö Saarinen, Anna Sahlsten, Greta Schalin, Sirpa Särkijärvi, Ann Sundholm, Marjatta Tapiola, Tuija Touru, Marianna Uutinen, Timo Vaittinen and Lea Whittington.
The Mutual Factor of Extremes 27.1.–15.4.2012
Produced in collaboration with the Degree Programme in Fine Arts at Turku University of Applied Sciences, the exhibition celebrates the 20-year anniversary of photography education in Turku. Photographs, video works and installations provide a cross-section of the diverse visual expressions found in the works of artists who have either trained in photography in Turku or taught at the school at different times.
Featured artists: Vesa Aaltonen, Markus Henttonen, Tatu Hiltunen, Mikko Ijäs, Tiina Itkonen, Kristian Jalava, Jan Kaila, Sanna Kannisto, Japo Knuutila, Heli Konttinen, Mikko Kuorinki, Antti Laitinen, Renja Leino, Anni Leppälä, Ismo Luukkonen, Susanna Majuri, Kimmo Metsäranta, Juha Nenonen, Aada Niilola, Nelli Palomäki, Anu Pennanen, Harri Pälviranta, Hannele Romppanen, Jari Silomäki, Göran Torrkulla, Maria Ylikoski.
Formalities – The Borderland between Art and Design 9.9.2011–8.1.2012
The exhibition explores the multifaceted coexistence, exchange of influences, and interconnected meanings between design and the visual arts. Nearly 80 designers and artists are featured, showcasing over 200 objects and works of art. Chronologically, the exhibition focuses on the post-war period.
Featured artists and designers: Wäinö Aaltonen, Alvar Aalto, Eero Aarnio, Sanna Annukka, Eero Hiironen, Kaija Kiuru, Kaisu Koivisto, Stefan Lindfors, Maija Louekari, Gunnel Nyman, Zoltan Popovits, Timo Sarpaneva, Björn Weckström, Tapio Wirkkala, Miina Äkkijyrkkä, Elina Aalto, Yki Nummi, Janne Laurila, Jonas Hakaniemi, Kaj Franck, Otso Karpakka, Lars-Gunnar Nordström, Anna-Maija Aarras, Vuokko Nurmesniemi, Seppo Manninen, Hannu Riikonen, Raija Uosikkinen, Susanna Peijari, Matti Hyvärinen, Laila Pullinen, Aleksi Syvänen, Caj Bremer, Mia Cullin, Friedel Holzer-Kjellberg, Hella Hernberg, Jukka Setälä, Pekka Jylhä, Oiva Toikka, Anu Tuominen, Tiina Ketara, Niina Mahlberg, Birger Kaipiainen, Saara Hopea, Umppa Niinivaara, Pekka Piekäinen, Eelis Kauppi, Raili Tang, Aino Aalto, Valentina Modig-Manuel, Tapio Anttila, Mikko Laakkonen, Matti Helenius, Aamu Song, Lauri Ahlgren, Martti Lönnqvist, Olli Mannermaa, Annika Rimala, Esko Tirronen, Aimo Vuorinen, Antti Nurmesniemi, Tauno Tarna, Panu Puolakka, Liisa Hietanen, Jani Leinonen, Heli Rekula, Virpi Vesanen-Laukkanen, Olof Bäckström.
Water – Sense and Sensation 8.4.–21.8.2011
Focusing on photography and video art, the exhibition features works by 32 contemporary Finnish, Swedish and Estonian artists that explore the rich symbolism of water, its visual diversity, and its ever-changing nature.
Featured artists: Vesa Aaltonen, Erika Adamsson, Kristoffer Albrecht, Stefan Bremer, Marcus Eek (Swe), Päivi Eronen, Tina Eskilsson (Swe), Vesa Hannuksela, Eero Hiironen, Markus Henttonen, Susanna Iivanainen, Villu Jaanisoo, Hannu Karjalainen, Ritva Kovalainen, Mikko Kuorinki, Heli Kurunsaari, Laura Kärki, Anti Laitinen, Harri Larjosto, Peeter Laurits (Est), Renja Leino, Susanna Majuri, Jukka Male, Arno Rafael Minkkinen, Marge Monko (Est), Tuula Närhinen, Marja Pirilä, Lovisa Ringborg (Swe), Jaanus Samma (Est), Jari Silomäki, Tiina Vainio, Oliver Whitehead.
Death and Its Many Faces 22.10.2010 – 20.3.2011
The central theme of the exhibition is the cycle of life and death. The transience of life is explored through traditional vanitas still life artworks, humour, personifications of death, the barbarity of war, life stages and different emotions, such as grief and relief. The exhibition is part of the Capital of Culture project 876 Shades of Darkness.
Featured artists: Wäinö Aaltonen, Vesa-Pekka Rannikko, Kain Tapper, Olle Agnell, Åke Hellman, Alku Avanto, Erika Adamsson, Ville Vallgren, Oscar Parviainen, Marcus Collin, Ilmari Huitti, Jyrki Laine, Kalle Eskola, Elina Katara, Jaana Paulus, Martin Ahlström, Heimo Riihimäki, Annika Dahlsten, Eemil Karila, Magnus Enckell, Hugo Simberg, Kalervo Palsa, Saara Ekström, Heikki Marila, Marjatta Tapiola, Kaisu Koivisto, Viljo Mäkinen, Juhani Linnovaara, Anu Tuomi, Hans-Christian Berg, Paul Osipow, Heta Kuchka, Antti Nieminen, Anne Koskinen, Ulla Rantanen, Manno Kalliomäki, Hilkka Toivola, Eila-Maria Salo, Aleksanteri Ahola-Valo, Hilda Flodin, Edwin Lydén, Harro Koskinen, Laila Pullinen, Antti Louhisto, Erkki Mykrä, Tiina Karimaa, Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Pasi Tammi, Ole Kandelin, Lennart Segerstråle, Riikka Lenkkeri, Ulla Virta, Merja Pitkänen, Silja Rantanen.
Highlights – 100th Anniversary of the Association of Finnish Sculptors 19.5.–26.9.2010
The exhibition centres around new trends in sculpture, with an emphasis on artworks from the 21st century. Curator couple, sculptor Pekka Jylhä and Päivi Kiiski, Deputy Director of Museum Affairs, are responsible for selecting the artists. In addition to traditional sculpture materials and techniques, the exhibition showcases a diverse range of artistic expressions, from crocheted creations to videos, and from wood to glass fibre and pussy willow.
Featured artists: Anne Alho, Jasmin Anoschkin, Hans-Christian Berg, Kari Cavén, Maria Duncker, Jiri Geller, Ilmari Gryta, Saara Ekström, Petri Eskelinen, Kaisaleena Halinen, Jussi Heikkilä, Timo Heino, Helena Hietanen, Hanna Jaanisoo, Villu Jaanisoo, Aarne Jämsä, Ismo Kajander, Kaija Kiuru, Kaisu Koivisto, Markus Kåhre, Mika Natri, Maija Närhinen, Benjamin Orlow, Jaakko Pernu, Pink Twins, Anni Rapinoja, Kim Simonsson, Jyrki Siukonen, Pekka Syrjälä, Anu Tuominen, Kalle Turakka-Purhonen, Maaria Wirkkala.
The Big Picture – Arte’s 50th Anniversary Exhibition 29.1.–2.5.2010
The exhibition traces the journey of the Turku-based artists’ association from its founding date in the 1960s to the 21st century. One of the starting points for the Big Picture exhibition was to explore the artist’s role as a curator, with each decade curated by, or in collaboration with, an Arte artist.
Featured artists: including Raimo Aarras, Erkki Mykrä, Matti Helenius, Simo Helenius, Harro Koskinen, Anu Tuomi, Kimmo Ojaniemi, Erika Adamsson, Wilma Touru, Tiina Vainio, Jouni Boucht, Sari Torvinen, Susana Nevado, Sirkku Ketola, Sinikka Salmi, Ella Minkkinen, Sanna Vainionpää, Panu Thusberg, Sari Koski-Vähälä, Jukka Hautamäki, Timo O. Nenonen, Minna-Maija Lappalainen.
Marita Liulia – Choosing my Religion & Tarot 2.10.2009–10.1.2010
This touring exhibition, which premiered at Kiasma, aims to present the world’s major religions as equally valid choices. The multifaceted exhibition challenges the traditional position of women in many religions. It includes photographs, paintings, religious objects, installations, documentaries depicting Liulia’s work, as well as a website and book published for the exhibition.
Men and boys in Wäinö Aaltonen’s works 12.6–13.9.2009
Leonhard Lapin – Signs and Void 12.6.–13.9.2009
The retrospective of the Estonian artist and architect reveals new contextual connections to movements such as Constructivism and Suprematism. The exhibition offers insights into recent history and provides a glimpse into the unofficial art world in Estonia behind the socialist Iron Curtain. The exhibition has been created in collaboration with Hämeenlinna Art Museum.
The Circle – the Line – the Point. Russian Avant-Garde from Private Collections 12.6–25.7.2009
Winter motives 13.2–24.5.2009
Works from the Turku City Art Collection.
Dazzling! 13.2.–24.5.2009
The exhibition brings together artworks from the last hundred years that explore the theme of mirrors and feature reflective materials. It includes Finnish art by old master painters, as well as paintings, sculptures, photographs and video works by contemporary artists of the younger generation.
Featured artists: including Eero Hiironen, Matti Helenius, Heli Mäki-Arvela, Miika Karttunen, Pekka Jylhä, Antero Kahila, Magnus Enckell, Ismo Kajander, Elina Brotherus, Aino Kannisto, Henry Edman, Manno Kalliomäki, Kati Immonen, Kimmo Schroderus, Anu Tuominen, Marja Pirilä, Kerttu Horila, Severin Falkman, Alexandre Frosterus-Såltin, Gunnar Berndtson, Kimmo Pyykkö, Hans-Christian Berg.
Eero Hiironen – Breeze and Sparkle 13.2.–24.5.2009
The jubilee exhibition celebrating Eero Hiironen, known for his intense spatial works, skilfully captures the ever-changing movement and reflections of water, using modern materials such as plexiglass, glass, steel and mirror. In addition to their glimmering visuals, the works emphasise a multisensory approach and the experiential relationship people have with nature. Breeze and Sparkle is part of the exhibition Dazzling!.
Reima Nurmikko – Mehr Licht 27.11.2009–17.1.2010
The Studio features a holographic installation that invites viewer participation.
Nina Rantala 2.10.–22.11.2009
The exhibition in the Museum’s Studio and inner courtyard explores themes of destruction and construction. The works on display are related to the arson and reconstruction of three medieval churches: Porvoo Cathedral, St. Olav’s Church in Tyrvää and the Fantoft Stave Church in Norway.
Hanna Jaanisoo – Butterfly Effect 14.8.–27.9.2009
The exhibition is made up of two artworks that continue Jaanisoo’s ongoing series exploring climatic events and natural phenomena.
Marko Mäetamm – Family 12.6.–9.8.2009
The key theme of Estonian artist Mäetamm’s work is the changing concept of home and family in the 2000s. The exhibition explores the theme through video, installations and traditional drawings.
Benjamin Orlow 24.4.–7.6.2009
In the exhibition, Orlow, a sculpture student completing his last spring at the Arts Academy of Turku UAS, explores themes such as growth and development. In 2008, he was awarded the top prize at the Italian Premio Arteingenua Art Competition.
Ensign Stål 13.2.–19.4.2009
An exhibition commemorating the anniversary of the Finnish War, juxtaposing two artists from different eras: Albert Edelfelt and contemporary Swedish artist Ernst Billgren. They both have illustrated J.L. Runeberg’s The Tales of Ensign Stål and their original illustrations are on display at the exhibition.
The Stars, the Stars – Works from the Turku City Art Collection 28.11.2008–1.2.2009
In recognition of the UN’s declaration of 2009 as the International Year of Astronomy, the exhibition showcases space-related works from the Turku City Art Collection. The exhibition is in the museum café.
Featured artists: Kimmo Ojanniemi, Osmo Rauhala, Tuula Moilanen, Juhani Vikainen, Saara Tikka, Pentti Koivikko, Ismo Kajander, Otso Karpakka, Matti Helenius.
Times Flowing By – Works from the Turku City Art Collection 10.10.2008 – 18.1.2009
The museum’s sculpture hall is dedicated to Aaltonen’s works exploring the human figure. These can be loosely divided into three themes: facial studies, human figures expressing emotions, and human forms abstracted through the influence of Cubism.
Kauko Lehtinen 10.10.2008–18.1.2009
The retrospective traces the artist’s career over six decades, from the 1950s to the 21st century. It seeks to present Lehtinen’s work as diversely as possible, while also offering new perspectives on his themes.
Antti Nieminen – Quiet Summer Light. Works from the Turku City Art Collection 4.7.–17.8.2009
Surrealism-inspired artworks by a founding member of the Pro Arte Artist Group, influential in Turku. Nieminen is particularly well-known for his distinctive lithographs.
Harry Kivijärvi – And What Has Been Called Art 9.5.–21.9.2008
Three complementary exhibitions present the sculptor’s life’s work, his collection of world art, and the African art he collected together with his wife Liisa.
North-East from Kakola 25.1.–20.4.2008
The Wäinö Aaltonen Museum’s second 40th anniversary exhibition presents works from the Turku City Art Collection, mainly from the 1970s to today. Its themes include the city, work, the image of Finland, identity, sleep and the environment.
Featured artists: including Wäinö Aaltonen, Marika Mäkelä, Heli Kurunsaari, Kaisu Koivisto, Ismo Kajander, Heikki Marila, Stefan Lindfors, Anu Tuomi, Harro Koskinen.
Jan Kenneth Weckman – Corpus Revisited 25.1–2.3.2008
At the heart of this abstract exhibition are paintings from the 1997 Corpus series, which the artist revisited and expanded with new works in 2007. The emphasis lies on the gaze and the essence of art rather than the various meanings it might convey.
Hanna Seppänen – I Think about the Landscape 7.3.–6.4.2008
The thesis show by Hanna Seppänen, a student of the Arts Academy at Turku UAS, consists of charcoal drawings that portray people and landscapes in a soft yet intense manner.
Miina Savolainen – The Loveliest Girl in the World 18.4.–22.6.2008
A community art project by an artist and ten young women who grew up in a children’s home in Helsinki, documenting their growth from girls to young adults over the course of ten years. Implemented using the method of empowering photography, this project emphasises everyone’s right to feel valued, strong and loved.
Minna Havukainen & Sini Liimatainen 4.7.–17.8.2008
Taking a documentary approach, this exhibition features photographs and videos of people living with illness. It explores the limits of human existence, the experience of facing illness, and the role of empathy.
Kim Simonsson – Variations on a Decoration 22.8.–5.10.2008
The exhibition presents clinically white ceramic sculptures inspired by the visual language of manga, distinguished by their sense of strangeness.
Shepherd in a Cityscape 5.10.2007–6.1.2008
The first part of Wäinö Aaltonen Museum’s 40th anniversary exhibition, including more than 300 pieces from the Turku City Art Collection from the 19th century onwards. The theme is expressed through romantic landscapes, portraits and everyday aesthetics.
Featured artists: including Wäinö Aaltonen, Eino Aaltonen, Matti Helenius, Einari Levo, Viljo Mäkinen, Simo Helenius, Outi Heiskanen, Antti Louhisto, Jussi Mäntynen, Mikko Paakkola, Kati Immonen, Anna-Maija Aarras, Kaisu Koivisto, Joh. Cardon, J. J. Reinberg, Victor Westerholm, Axel Haartman, Armas Mikkola, Harry Henriksson, Otso Karpakka, Alma Engblom, Dora Wahlroos, Greta Schalin, Edith Wiklund, Laila Säilä, Hilkka Toivola, Ulla Söderholm, Edwin Lydén, Otto Mäkilä,Alpo Jaakkola, Mauno Hartman, Jussi Heikkilä, Jyrki Siukonen, Lauri Astala, Stuart Wrede, Göran Torrkulla, Albert Edelfelt, Wladimir Swertschkoff, J. G. Geitel.
Wild – Fantasy and Architecture 25.5.–16.9.2007
Daring to blur the lines between visual arts and traditional architecture, this international exhibition showcases architecture inspired by fantasy, ornamentation and organic forms. The exhibition was curated by Jan-Erik Andersson and Jen Budney.
Featured artists: including 24h -architects, Vito Acconci, Will Alsop, Elsa Beskow, Douglas Cardinal, Peter Cook & Colin Fournier, Hermann Finsterlin, Antonio Gaudi, Richard Greaves, Vilho Halmekari, Hubbell & Hubbell, Hundertwasser, Danielle Jacqui, Walter Jonas, Frederick Kiesler, Greg Lynn, N55, Claes Oldenburg & Coosje Van Bruggen, Reima ja Raili Pietilä, Ana Riekovitz, Rosegarden, Kurt Schwitters, Rudolf Steiner, Christiaan Sluten, Marko Home and Mika Taanila.
Pekka Jylhä – Ljusets näste 16.2–29.4.2007
In this exhibition, dream-like installations toy with gravity: even heavy forms appear airy and afloat. Many of Jylhä’s works draw from the artist’s own life, carrying both weighty and lighter stories within them.
Rax Rinnekangas – Son of Suometar 30.11.2007–20.1.2008
The exhibition space has been transformed into a classroom, where an art film is shown, commemorating the 90-year-old Finland. To accompany Rinnekangas’ film, colour photographs are displayed on the walls, extending the narrative.
Heimo Riihimäki & Kimmo Sarje 28.9–25.11.2007
The exhibition Laughing Death presents surreal and multidimensional depictions of death that have dominated Riihimäki’s work for the past few years. The exhibition is complemented by serigraphs depicting the youth of Kimmo Sarje, Riihimäki’s nephew.
Manno Kalliomäki – Shared Joy 10.8.–23.9.2007
In Kalliomäki’s memorial exhibition, the artist warmly portrays his friends through his prints, with their memories of Kallioniemi added alongside the artworks.
Juhana Tainio 29.6–5.8.2007
Sculpture exhibition by a graduating student at Turku UAS’ Arts Academy.
WILD Tree House 25.5–24.6.2007
The exhibition presents the work of 19 architecture students from 12 different countries who participated in the international Wood Program of the Department of Architecture at the Helsinki University of Technology (now Aalto University).
Kristian Simolin – hands | face | guest 23.3.–20.5.2007
A video installation featuring a looped animation, where the same motion sequence is repeated with only slight variations.
Sanna Peuri – Translations 19.1.–18.3.2007
An exhibition focusing on the paintings by Sanna Peuri, known for her three-dimensional work and sculptures. In this exhibition, she captures atmospheres and moods by depicting clouds.
Merja Puustinen and Andy Best – Abdominal Pain, Headaches and Balance Disorders 3.11.2006–28.1.2007
The artist couple’s surreal installations comment on everyday life controlled by the media. Large-scale works resembling a bouncy castle take over WAM’s sculpture hall. They even extend to the museum roof, challenging conventional perceptions of the familiar and the customary.
Otso Karpakka and Hilkka Toivola – A Shared Life 3.11.2006–28.1.2007
The first major joint retrospective of the artist couple, representing Modernism in Turku. The exhibition showcases their paintings, stained glass works and sketches from the 1930s to the 1990s.
Greetings from the Artist 3.11.2006–14.1.2007
The exhibition in the museum lobby features Christmas cards by local artists from different decades.
Laila Pullinen – Atti d’amore 12.5.–15.10.2006
This retrospective showcases the creative output of the innovative sculptor, Laila Pullinen, from 1955 to the present. Her sculptures, drawings and collages primarily consist of everyday objects, serving as a reminder of our responsibility toward the environment.
Presence – Perspectives on Finnish Photography 10.2.–23.4.2006
Works from the collections of the Finnish Museum of Photography and the City of Turku. The exhibition presents Finnish photographic art from the 1980s to recent years, featuring interpretations of human presence, memory, time and place, along with the traces they leave behind. Visitors are invited to take a self-portrait at a dedicated photography point and print it for future visitors to see.
Featured artists: Manno Kalliomäki, Harro Koskinen, Salla Tykkä, Elina Brotherus, Heli Rekula, Mikko Mälkki, Ulla Jokisalo, Stefan Bremer, Jouko Lehtola, Pekka Elomaa, Ilkka Halso, Ola Kolehmainen, Andrei Lajunen, Sanna Kannisto, Eskö Männikkö, Merja Pirilä, Petri Nuutinen, Kari Soinio, Hanna Weselius, Vesa Hannuksela, Harri Larjosto, Kristoffer Albrecht, Aino Kannisto, Anni Leppälä, Marjaana Kella, Taneli Eskola, Juha Nenonen, Mikko Hietaharju, Juha-Pekka Inkinen, Henry Edman.
Irina Zatulovskaya – Russian Christmas 17.11.2006–14.1.2007
The exhibition offers a taster of Russian Christmas traditions.
Oona Tikkaoja – Adventures in Time and Space, Part 2: Triton Court 8.9.–12.11.2006
Inspired by sci-fi, the second part of the exhibition trilogy features sewn extraterrestrial and sci-fi characters, creating an adventurous setting for viewers to step into.
Umppa Niinivaara – Bottom 16.6.–3.9.2006
Through its sculptures, this spatial installation evokes the atmosphere of underwater worlds. Thematically, the exhibition reflects on the past and the future.
Susanna Peijari – Space in Between 12.5.–11.6.2006
The thesis exhibition of Susanna Peijari, a graduating student of the Arts Academy at Turku UAS, consists of an installation of 18 graphic human characters. Positioned in a line, the characters embody the expectations associated with various aspects and situations of life.
Santeri Tuori – Portraits 10.3.–30.4.2006
Tuori’s portraits merge black-and-white photographs with colour video, expanding the conventional viewpoint. The exhibition explores how identity is formed in portraiture, and the elements that shape it.
Hyäryllistä – Collected Works 20.1.–5.3.2006
The exhibition features installations made from everyday objects, collaboratively created by the artist group using recycled materials from their earlier works. True to the group’s style, the result is accessible and infused with a playful sense of humour.
Artists: Jouko Korkeasaari, Sari Koski-Vähälä, Heli Kurunsaari, Harri Lukkari.
Light Therapy – Top Names in Finnish Contemporary Art 9.11.2005–29.1.2006
Bringing together 11 contemporary artists working with light, the exhibition offers a burst of energy in the midst of the dark season. Aesthetics, harmony and viewer interaction are the unifying elements of the luminous sculptures, media artworks and spatial installations.
Featured artists: Hans-Christian Berg, Helena Hietanen ja Jaakko Niemelä, Saara Ekström, Henrietta Lehtonen, Jari Juvonen, Tiina Ketara, Charles Sandison, Eero Hiironen, Leena Saarto, Simo Rouhiainen.
Breakfast on the Quay – Works from the Turku City Art Collection 10.6.–16.10.2005
The exhibition, drawn from the museum’s collection, takes the Miracle of Colour exhibition as its starting point. The selection of artworks reflects the visual language and subject matter of Impressionism, emphasising fleeting moments, vibrant colour and the play of light.
Featured artists: including Wäinö Aaltonen, Martti Aiha, Heli Mäki-Arvela, Simo Helenius, Kati Immonen, Kristina Isaksson, Vesa Aaltonen, Jussi Heikkilä.
Miracle of Colour – Impressionists and Post-Impressionists 10.6.–16.10.2005
Celebrating the interplay of light and colour, the summer exhibition brings together select treasures from Impressionism and Post-Impressionism. The exhibition was produced in cooperation with the Wallraf-Richartz-Museum of Cologne.
Featured artists: including Pierre Bonnard, Alfred William Finch, Paul Gauguin, Claude Monet, Berthe Morisot, Camille Pissarro, Pierre Auguste Renoir, Georges Seurat, Paul Signac, Alfred Sisley, Paul Baum, Eugène Boudin, Gustave Caillebotte, Lucie Cousturier, Henri Edmond Cross, Kees van Dongen, Albert Dubois-Pillet, Norbert Goeneutte, Johan Barthold Jongkind, Alexander Kanoldt, Achille Laugè, Henri Lebasque, Georges Lemmen, Andre Léveillé, Maximilian Luce, Henri Martin, Maxime Maufra, Henry Moret, Fernand Loyen du Puigaudeau, Théo van Rysselberghe, Edouard Vuillard.
Lotus Flower – Art from Vietnam 18.3.–29.5.2005
The first large-scale exhibition of Vietnamese art, featuring a diverse range of works from lacquered sculptures rooted in the 17th-century craft tradition to contemporary cityscapes. The exhibition was produced in collaboration with the art museums of Hämeenlinna and Sinebrychoff.
Henry Wuorila-Stenberg – Retrospective 14.1.–6.3.2005
The extensive retrospective exhibition includes 170 pieces, illustrating the different stages of Wuorila-Stenberg’s life. The eventful journey begins with social themes, moves into pitch-black paintings, then delves into a period of whiteness before transitioning into an introspection rendered in harmonious colours. From there, the journey continues to Buddhist meditation and joy, before shifting to ruthless self-portraits and ultimately returning to societal themes.
I Seek no Power, nor Glory 2.12.2005–15.1.2006
Attuning to the spirit of Christmas, the exhibition reveals a curated selection of works from the Turku City Art Collection, evoking the magic of Christmas night, stillness and infinity. The exhibition features prints, paintings, photographs and sculptures.
Featured artists: Wäinö Aaltonen, Kuutti Lavonen, Göran Torrkulla, Matti Peltokangas, Ismo Kajander, Matti Helenius, Saara Ekström, Kalervo Valli, Matti Saanio, Martti Aiha, Markus Konttinen, Heta Riina Saarelainen.
Without Boundaries 30.9.–27.11.2005
The exhibition challenges viewers in a variety of ways to reflect on what confines us, and how we might break free from such limitations. At the same time, it expands the traditional concept of a museum space. Curated by Silvio Salgado, the exhibition features works by 16 young artists from nine different countries.
Featured artists: Linus Elmes, Milo Lavén, Elin Strand, Niamh McCann, Panagiotis Balomenos, Pirmin Blum, Karin Frank, Petri Huurinainen, Doris Krüger, Paola Junqueira, Anna Nyberg, Walter Pardeller, Colin Guillemet, Sabine Jelinek, Hannele and Helena Romppanen.
Harri Pälviranta – Prison Sheets 19.8.–25.9.2005
This photographic exhibition captures prison interiors in Israel, Germany and the former Soviet Union. The photographed sites are former prisons, now converted into museums, where prisoners of conscience were once held. The artist invites viewers to form their own mental images and reflections on the theme, a privilege the prisoners were not allowed to experience.
Jukka Rusanen 10.06.–14.08.2005
The exhibition is a thesis project by Rusanen, a graduating student from the Visual Arts programme at Turku UAS. Through large-scale paintings, he depicts his recent emotional states and their peaks. At the same time, he evokes bodily experiences in the viewer, engaging the senses with the scent of resin, as well as the scale and texture of the image surfaces.
Experimental Animation – Katerina Athanasopoulou, Simon Goulet, Adriaan Lokman 29.4.–29.5.2005
The three animations on display, Agronautica, OÎO and Barcode, evoke strong associations through their imagery, with the absence of a narrative being a central feature. As is common with abstract animation, actively experiencing the work offers a more meaningful encounter with art than passive observation alone.
Thom Vink – Complex 18.3.–24.4.2005
Through a combination of video clips, surveillance imagery, soundscapes, drawings and wall paintings, this multi-faceted art piece reveals a constantly evolving city that behaves like a vibrant, autonomous organism.
Henry Grahn Hermunen – In the Meanwhile Garden 21.1.–6.3.2005
The installation incorporates sculptural elements, video imagery, and an interplay of light and shadow. The interactive piece invites viewers to peer into various images and sketches through magnifying glasses integrated into the sculptures.
Contemporary Visions – Photographs and Videos from Helga de Alvear’s Collection 1.10.2004–2.1.2005
This rare exhibition of photographs and video art, drawn from the collection of gallerist and art collector de Alvear, explores themes of identity and otherness. It also seeks to inspire viewers to reflect on their own values and attitudes. The exhibition features works by 24 prominent contemporary artists.
Featured artists: Tracey Moffatt, Alicia Framis, Eija-Liisa Ahtila, Vanessa Beecroft, Matti Braun, Robin Collyer, Stephane Couturier, Christine Davis, Thomas Demand, Stan Douglas, Candida Höfer, Isaac Julien, Kimsooja, Ken Lum, Inigo Manglano-Ovalle, Mariko Mori, Pipilotti Rist, Thoma Ruff, Frank Thiel, Fatimah Tuggar, Eulàlia Valldosera, Jeff Wall, Shizuka Yokomizu, Edwin Zwakman.
Wäinö Aaltonen’s themes in the 1920’s 11.6.–19.9.2004
Edwin Lydén – Polyphonic Reality 11.6.–19.9.2004
The exhibition delves into local art history, with a particular emphasis on Edwin Lydén, now celebrated as a Modernist. Featuring about 130 works, the exhibition offers a comprehensive view of the artist’s career and interests, exploring themes such as nature and the experience of it, religious and mystical topics, as well as humanity and its relationship with the environment.
A Land Shared – Contemporary and Applied Art of the Northern Peoples 19.3.–30.5.2004
The exhibition is a joint project between Gallen-Kallela Museum, SIIDA Sámi Museum and Wäinö Aaltonen Museum. The aim is to deconstruct the idea of a singular, common Finnish identity by emphasising the shared country over citizenship, with art serving as a unifying element.
60°27’06” 22°16’38” – Turku Artists’ Association 80 years 23.1–7.3.2004
The anniversary exhibition showcases art from Turku, presenting its significance in relation to both national and international art. The concept of locality is viewed as a tool that facilitates living together and shapes personal identity.
Featured artists: Markku Kosonen, Heli Mäki-Arvela, Kristina Isaksson, Jari Jula, Erika Adamsson, Markku Laakso, Minna Sjöholm, Heli Sammalisto, Shahrzad Hazrati, Tiina Vainio, Umppa Niinivaara, Maarit Nissilä, Merja Pitkänen, Minna Maija Lappalainen, Susana Nevado, Sakari Peltola.
Marja Suna – A Festival in Snow and Ice 19.11.2004–16.1.2005
Drawing its themes and colour palette from the winter landscapes of Finland, the exhibition presents the latest jewellery, unique glass works and sculptural garments by Marja Suna, an established figure in Finnish design. Simplicity, elegance and timelessness are the hallmarks of the artist’s work.
Grönlund / Nisunen 1.10.–14.11.2004
The spatial structures created by Tommi Grönlund and Petteri Nisunen draw on architecture and technology. This untitled exhibition places the responsibility on the viewer, inviting them to develop their own perspective and critical framework for interpreting the work.
Jari Silomäki –My Weather Diary 20.8.–26.9.2004
The exhibition comprises approximately 150 images captured with a large format camera, each accompanied by a text written by the artist. The works have been selected from a larger collection that Silomäki builds by adding one image each day. Thematically, the works capture snapshots of everyday life.
Nina Roos – Location of Surprise and Perplexity… 11.6.–15.8.2004
In her first solo exhibition in Turku, Nina Roos, professor at the Academy of Fine Arts, presents her most recent works of art. The works are intuitively influenced by Rococo aesthetics.
Sini-Meri Hedberg – The Roots 23.4.–23.5.2004
The thesis exhibition by Hedberg, a graduating student of the Arts Academy at Turku UAS, centres on the artist’s own family. Her paintings are based on photographs from the family album. The environment and milieu also play a crucial role in shaping the individual.
Eero Markuksela – Legends 5.3.–18.4.2004
Inspired by the cultures of East Asia, the works merge a playful attitude with philosophical reflections, mythical traditions and stories, seamlessly connecting them to the present day.
Charles Sandison – Cohesion 23.1.–29.2.2004
The exhibition features four computer-generated video works that examine the relationships between language, architecture, movement and form. The artist constructs their creations for each unique setting, seamlessly integrating the ambience and conditions of the space into the work itself.
Jan-Erik Andersson – The Core of Christmas 21.11.2003–11.1.2004
Thematically, the exhibition explores an individual’s relationship with both space and other people. In the exhibition, the imaginative and the ordinary converge through sculptures, photographs, writings and a real-time internet connection. Constructed within the exhibition spaces, the works span a wide range of disciplines, yet they are united by a single concept: they integrate into their environment, thus serving roles that extend past the boundaries of art itself.
Inari Krohn – Nature and Fantasy. Works Created Between 1966 and 2003 31.10.2003–11.1.2004
The artist’s first retrospective provides a comprehensive overview of her production and the changing spirit of the times reflected in the works. The subjects of the paintings, watercolours and prints include both social themes and the calming beauty of nature. The exhibition showcases works spanning from 1966 to the present day.
POP International 18.6.–19.10.2003
The fourth exhibition organised in collaboration with the Ludwig Museum in Cologne features 79 loaned works by 31 pioneering figures of European and American Pop Art.
Featured artists: Allan d’Arcangelo, Richard Artschwager, Peter Blake, Patrick Caulfield, César (Baldaccini), William Copley, Jim Dine, Öyvind Fahlström, Richard Hamilton, David Hockney, Robert Indiana, Jasper Johns, Allen Jones, Allan Kaprow, Ronald B. Kitaj, Yayoi Kusama, Roy Lichtenstein, Richard Lindner, Claes Oldenburg, Eduardo Paolozzi, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Mel Ramos, Robert Rauschenberg, Martial Raysse, James Rosenquist, Edward Ruscha, Wayne Thiebaud, Wolf Vostell, Andy Warhol, John Wesley, Tom Wesselmann.
Tove Jansson 28.3.–1.6.2003
Based on the memorial exhibition at Tampere Art Museum, the exhibition highlights Jansson’s career as a visual artist. Alongside numerous colourful and atmospheric paintings, it features political cartoons created for the Garm magazine, as well as original illustrations for the Moomin books and Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice in Wonderland. The works were created between 1935 and 1977.
GRR 70th Anniversary of the Turku Printmakers’ Association 14.2.–16.3.2003
Printmaking from Turku and its long, ambitious history are celebrated through the bold and expressive lines created by 28 artists. At the same time, the exhibition pays tribute to art education in Turku, particularly by presenting prints created by artists who studied at the Turku Drawing School.
Featured artists: Heli Kurunsaari, Sanna Huttunen, Annika Dahlsten, Sirpa Särkijärvi, Minna Sarvanne, Katja Syrjä, Juhani Vikanen, Hannu Artinaho, Seela Petra, Veronika Ringbom, Juha Joro, Merja Ylitalo, Hanna Tammi, Timo Olsbo, Laura Miettinen, Piia Lehti, Marjatta Nuoreva, Liili Mõtuste, Ulla-Maija Kallinen, Teija Lehto, Jouni Boucht, Yrjänä Ermala, Matti Helenius, Veikko Lehtovaara, Marita Mikkonen, Tarja-Liisa Salo, Panu Thusberg, Hanna Varis.
Anu Osva – Life Code 28.2.–6.4.2003
In the exhibition, the human genetic code, DNA, transforms into colour, continuously shifting into repeated symbols or characters as it moves across the canvas. The exhibition raises the fundamental questions of life: who are we, and where do we come from?
Seppo Tamminen – My Cities 11.4.–25.5.2003
In the paintings on display, Tamminen affectionately portrays St. Petersburg, a city he considers his own. At the same time, he invites viewers to reflect on their connection to various places and discover the city that feels like their own.
Tamara Piilola – privacy 29.5.–10.8.2003
The debut exhibition by Piilola, a graduating student of the Arts Academy at Turku UAS, features paintings inspired by photographs, focusing on the personal and intimate atmospheres evoked by public spaces.
Simo Alitalo – Cool 26.9.–9.11.2003
The audio installation explores themes of temporality and locality by blending real-time and pre-recorded sound. Underwater recordings from the museum’s atrium pool, combined with the sound of wind chimes on the roof and the calls of beluga whales in the White Sea, come together to create a richly layered sonic experience for visitors.
Fanni Niemi-Junkola – To Begin 15.8.–21.9.2003
The intimate experience of the video installation – with its slow pace, the suffering main character without a backstory, dressed in a hospital gown, and a sense of endless anticipation – leaves the narrative open for the viewer to piece together.
Ismo Luukkonen – Burial Cairn 10.1–23.2.2003
The photography exhibition explores layers formed in the landscape over time, primarily through Bronze Age grave mounds, also known as burial cairns.
Thrill of Speed and Faith in the Future 15.11.2002–2.2.2003
On the museum’s second platform, visitors can view a display of metallic toys from the 1950s and 1960s, primarily cars. Compiled from the collection of Hannu Pekkarinen, a specialist in psychiatry, the exhibition radiates a sense of innocent naivety and nostalgic optimism.
Jaakko Niemelä – Black Box 15.11.2002–2.2.2003
The exhibition is built on a dialogue between light and darkness, the future and the past. Staying true to Nieminen’s artistic vision, it continues his investigation into the realms of childhood, play, and the experience of scale and space. The comprehensive Black Box installation, which extends even to the exhibition attendants’ outfits, weaves in the concepts of memory and control, evoking their associated atmospheres.
A selection from the new acquisitions 14.9.–3.11.2002
Stop for a moment – Painting as presence 6.9.–27.10.2002
Produced in collaboration with the Nordic Institute for Contemporary Art (NIFCA), the exhibition introduces a fresh wave of young Nordic painting. The overarching themes are rooted in self-critical and self-conscious approaches to painting, rejecting any space for reflection on its status as a commodity.
Featured artists: Marcus Eek, Anna Fro Vodder, Jukka Korkeila, John Korner, Elina Merenmies, Tiina Elina Nurminen, Tal R.
Anna-Maija Aarras – Orangerie 14.6.–1.9.2002
Featuring monumental plant motifs, the textile artist’s spatial installation takes over the museum’s second platform. Simplified, indicative reliefs are paired with luxurious textile materials, creating a cohesive display that plays with light and colour.
Just for Pleasure – Naïve Art from the Collection of Suomen Gallup 14.6.–25.8.2002
The exhibition showcases a selection of more than 100 pieces from the collection, with themes revolving around celebrations and carnivals, love and separation, summer and animals. The chosen naïve artists are united by an open, compassionate and often humorous attitude toward people and nature.
Featured artists: Ari Ajanto, Kaarina Alsta, Anita Backlund, Marit Björnegran, Roger Boissier, Edgar Bouzy, Teresa Carabassa, Jackson Charlot, Beryl Cook, Tatiana Elenok, Annukka Grönlund, Anna-Liisa Hakkarainen, Pentti Happonen, Pekka Hiltunen, Dora Holzhandler, Olavi Hurmerinta, Enni Id, Martti Innanen, Inkeri Julkunen, Seija Juva, Alice Kaira, Reijo Kivijärvi, Hannu Konola, Lena Koski, Markku Kosonen, Nikolai Lehto, Martti Lehto, Pirkko Lepistö, Raija Nokkala, Mika Palovaara, Aune Paulin, Jarkko Peltonen, Lea Pihkala, Tarja Polari, Olli-Pekka Riihikoski, Anja Santala, Virpi Vanas, Pertti Ylinen, Ljubov Zidarov.
Joyful Summer Motifs from the Turku City Art Collection 14.6.–18.8.2002
Compiled from the Turku City Art Collection , the exhibition immerses the viewer in the atmosphere of a Finnish summer. The display primarily features sculptures, including both older and recently acquired pieces.
Featured artists: Wäinö Aaltonen, Anne Alho, Hasan Fuat Sari, Raimo Heino, Antti Louhisto, Viljo Mäkinen, Gunnar Uotila, Heikki W. Virolainen, Miina Äkkijyrkkä.
Antti Laitinen 3.5.–9.6.2002
Hilkka Könönen – White Steps 19.4.–2.6.2002
The exhibition showcases Könönen’s new paintings on aluminium-coated plastic. The delicate shapes of the surface, combined with the bright colour palette, evoke strong impressions and a wide array of associations, from the cosmos to the various paths we tread in life.
The Invisible City – Unfulfilled Plans from the 20th Century Turku 19.4.–2.6.2002
An intriguing look at an alternative Turku, visualised through unimplemented urban plans. The exhibition invites reflection on urban planning, the experience of urban spaces, and future visions.
Kalle Eskola – Lived Beauty 9.2.–7.4.2002
The exhibition provides a cross-section of Eskola’s work, representing Modernism in Turku. Organised by decade, the artworks trace the evolution of the artist’s style over time. The focus is drawn to the artist’s key themes: portraits, nudes, landscapes and still life paintings.
Anneli Nygren – Christmas Street 22.11.2002–5.1.2003
The exhibition offers a critical perspective on the commercialisation of Christmas. As is customary for this artist, various critical tools are employed, including videos, photographs, drawings, written pieces, and even Christmas songs for which the artist has composed both the music and lyrics specifically for this exhibition.
Jorma Hyttinen – Paintings 11.10.–17.11.2002
Completed specifically for this exhibition, Hyttinen’s paintings of trees, gardens and landscapes offer a thematic exploration where figurative and non-figurative elements seamlessly converge.
Outi Puro – Sunday 30.08.–6.10.2002
The installation features the word pair ‘LOVE/HATE’, composed of LED lights and about 2,000 sweet buns or pulla in Finnish. It reflects both the comforting familiarity of home and the mundane grind of everyday life, often referred to in Finnish as pakkopulla – a term that translates to ‘a necessary evil’. The display also includes a performance, in which the artist bakes sweet buns for museum visitors on Sundays.
Some Circus! 14.6.–25.8.2002
To mark the 200th anniversary of the circus’s arrival in Finland, the museum presents circus-themed posters from the Friedländer printing house in Hamburg, on loan from Solmu Mäkelä’s collection. The original lithographs date from the early 1870s to the mid-1930s.
Jyrki Lemmetti – Toy Wars 15.3.–28.4.2002
The photography exhibition presents Cold War-era toys set against the backdrop of factory environments that were once impressive but are now abandoned. Although these photographs were taken between 1996 and 1998, post-industrial environments have long been a recurring theme in the artist’s work.
BLICK – New Nordic Video 19., 20., 27. and 28.2.2002
The BLICK project presents film and video art by emerging Nordic artists. Produced by NIFCA in collaboration with Moderna Museet, the touring exhibition will be shown at nearly thirty international art museums.
Featured artists: Erik Aalto, Mats Adelman, Jari Alakoskela, J Tobias Anderson, Carina Bergholm Sundén, Tobias Bernstrup, Johanna Billing, Marie Bondeson, Arne Borgan, Estella Burga, Soren Dahlgaard, Katarina Eismann, Maria Friberg, Anna Julia Fridbjörnsdóttir, Peter Geschwind, Alexander Gutke, Inger Lise Hansen, Ronny Hansson, Ronnit Hasson, Felice Hapetzeder, Mai Hofstad Gunnes, Saskia Holmkvist, Gunilla Klingberg, Cecilia Lundqvist, Lotte Konow Lund, Katarina Löfström, Timo Menke, Hanna Miettinen, Pekka Niskanen, Jesper Nordahl, Bjargey Olafsdóttir, Björn Perborg, Ulf Rollof, Pia Rönicke, Saara Saarela, Egill Saebjörnsson, Thorvaldur Thorsteinsson & Olafur Johannesson, Salla Tykkä, Gitte Villesen.
Juba – A Cultured Pig 18.1.–10.3.2002
The exhibition showcases Juba Tuomola’s comic strip originals on cultural topics from the popular Viivi and Wagner series.
Kaj Stenvall – Against the Sky 16.11.2001– 3.2.2002
The exhibition features approximately 100 duck-themed artworks, both new and old. The earlier pieces are thematically organised around art historical references, highlighting the enduring influence of traditions as a source of new inspiration. A scaled-down version of the exhibition will tour to Hämeenlinna Art Museum.
Carnival of Spirits – Haitian Art from Jørgen Leth’s Collections 7.9.–4.11.2001
Approximately 200 intense and naïve paintings, metal reliefs and voodoo flags from the Leth Collection are on display. The exhibition features works by pioneers of Haitian art, such as Wilson Bigaud and Préfète Duffaut, alongside pieces by younger artists, and was produced by Kunstmuseum Brandts in Odense.
Featured artists: Richard Antilhomme, Montas Antoine, Gabriel Arthus, Francois Bellande, G. Bien-Aimé, Wilson Bigaud, S. Blanchard, Robert St.Brice, Murat Brierre, Gélin Buteau, Leonel Charles, Etienne Chavannes, J. Christophe, Myrlande Constant, Wilson Désir, Jean Jean Dubic, Préfète Duffaut, I. Dumond, Roland Etienne, Lévoy Exil, Lafortune Félix, Gérard Fortuné, Tiga Garoute, Gerelis, Alexandre Grégoire, A. J., Ednar Jean, Jean-Baptiste Jean, Prince Jean-Jo (Jean José Lafontant), Paul Jean-Pierre.
Mirimari Väyrynen 7.9.–14.10.2001
The exhibition currently on display in the museum’s café features vibrant, colourful paintings by Väyrynen, a recent graduate of the Arts Academy at Turku UAS. Väyrynen’s works carry influences from the time she spent in Mexico and Cuba. The exhibition complements the Haitian art exhibition on display in the main space.
Classic! Fresh Display of Wäinö Aaltonen’s Works from the Collection June 2001–January 2002
The sculpture hall includes a collection of Wäinö Aaltonen’s sculptures, exuding the elegance of classical art, juxtaposed with works by contemporary artists such as Lauri Astala, Kuutti Lavonen, Marjo Lehtinen and Kirsi Neuvonen. In the exhibition, history and the present engage in an inspiring dialogue.
Olli Lyytikäinen 1.6.–26.8.2001
The selection, drawn from a larger collection created by Kiasma, centres on the potential of storytelling in the visual arts. The retrospective consists of over 300 works that highlight Lyytikäinen’s experimental methods and unique style.
Eija Siikala – Presénce. Paintings 20.4.–27.5.2001
Siikala’s first solo exhibition in her home city spreads to the museum’s second platform, featuring nearly monochromatic abstract paintings. The works were created using the demanding technique of egg tempera on thick linen.
Hockey Flowers – Works from the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation Collection at Rovaniemi Art Museum 12.4.–20.5.2001
The collection on the museum’s second platform offers an overview of Finnish visual arts in the 1980s and 1990s. Paintings, sculptures, photographs and installations are juxtaposed in intriguing ways, encouraging reflection on the relationships between different artistic techniques.
Featured artists: Martti Aiha, Kari Cavén, Radoslav Gryta, Risto Heikinheimo, Jussi Heikkilä, Marja Helander, Riitta Helevä, Reijo Hukkanen, Anita Jensen, Tapio Junno, Jari Juvonen, Pekka Jylhä, Jan Kaila, Janne Kaitala, Marja Kanervo, Kapa (Kapanen Matti), Pasi Karjula, Pekka Kauhanen, Pertti Kekarainen, Pertti Kukkonen, Lauri Laine, Henrietta Lehtonen, Leena Luostarinen, Marika Mäkelä, Jaakko Niemelä, Jussi Niva, Kimmo Ojaniemi, Matti Peltokangas, Pekka Pitkänen, Pauno Pohjolainen, Jorma Puranen, Silja Rantanen, Nina Roos, Pentti Sammallahti, Jyrki Siukonen, Heimo Suntio, Risto Suomi, Nanna Susi, Raili Tang, Antti Tanttu, Marjatta Tapiola, Jarkko Tronberg, Sinikka Tuominen, Maaria Wirkkala, Osmo Valtonen, Henry Wuorila-Stenberg.
David Hockney – Retrospective Photoworks 19.1.–1.4.2001
The exhibition, organised in collaboration with the Ludwig Museum in Cologne, is the first comprehensive retrospective focusing on the renowned pop artist David Hockney as a photographer. By blending traditional painting techniques with photography, Hockney creates a cross-disciplinary approach to exploring reality.
Miina Äkkijyrkkä – My Betlehem 23.11.2001–13.1.2002
Wäinö Aaltonen Museum’s Christmas exhibition features both brand new and slightly older sculptures by Äkkijyrkkä. The most recent works emphasise the use of ecological materials, joy and optimism.
AnalogueTV: Screensaver 5.10.–18.11.2001
The exhibition, compiled by Estonian curators Härm and Soans, centres on the concept of the television screen as a ‘window into capitalism’, which Finnish TV provided to the residents of Tallinn in the 1980s. The new exhibition examines the topic and the Estonian lifestyle from a politically fresh and alternative perspective.
Featured artists: Darius Miksys, Eriks Bozis, Anders Härm, Hanno Soans.
Saara Ekström – Nursery 17.8.–30.9.2001
The photographs and videos created specifically for the exhibition explore themes of guilt, healing and atonement through children’s play. In these works, flowers are initially subjected to rough handling, only to be tenderly cared for by a child thereafter, almost as if they were patients.
Laura Miettinen & Marita Mikkonen – The House 8.6.–12.8.2001
The joint exhibition by two Turku-based printmakers explores the symbolic dimensions of the house through prints and Mikkonen’s sculptures. The house is depicted not only as a home and a provider of shelter and accommodation, but also as a symbol of the self and the inner world.
Laura Wirén – Inner Dogs 27.4–3.6.2001
The thesis exhibition by Wirén, a graduating student of the Arts Academy at Turku UAS, centres around drawings of dogs and horses, a subject she confesses she ultimately surrendered to. When planning her “actual” thesis, the artist was sketching animals for personal enjoyment. Over time, these sketches evolved into her formal thesis project.
Heta Riina Saarelainen – And Suddenly It Is Evening 9.3.–22.4.2001
With their intense colours evoking a sense of depth, these large-scale artworks emerged from reflections on death. The technique of using acrylic and stains demands rapid execution, which, in turn, emphasises the transient nature of life.
Arto Korhonen – The Teddy Bears’ Picnic 19.1.–4.3.2001
Based on coincidence, the video installation exudes lightness and playfulness, especially when the visual narrative occasionally aligns with the lyrics of the song, The Teddy Bears’ Picnic. The slides, projected onto the ceiling and depicting the performers in the video, metaphorically emphasise this lightness.
10th Anniversary of Jöötti Association at Wäinö Aaltonen Museum 3.12.–7.1.2001
Anniversary exhibition of the Turku-based bronze casting pioneer Jöötti Association. Alongside classic bronze pieces, sculptures made from a variety of materials are showcased, embodying a range of styles from Surrealism to Concretism.
Featured artists: Béla Czitrom, Veikko Karskela, Sinikka Mäki-Lertola, Erik Mäkinen, Umppa Niinivaara, Maarit Nissilä, Merja Pitkänen, Aarno Rankka, Jani Rättyä, Hasan Fuat Sari.
Hreinn Fridfinnsson – Ars Fennica 2000 6.10.–26.11.2000
The exhibition presents the conceptual art of Hreinn Fridfinnsson, sometimes described as visual poetry. Fridfinnsson was awarded the Ars Fennica Prize in 2000.
WAM Recommends – Simo Helenius – Kaisu Koivisto – Heli Mäki-Arvela – Ann Sundholm 28.7.–24.9.2000
The exhibition brings together four recognised artists, each playing a significant role in the visual arts scene of their respective regions. On display are newly created sculptures, drawings, paintings and installations made especially for the exhibition.
Pablo Picasso – Young and Old 12.4.–16.7.2000
Picasso’s concern with the fate of individuals is reflected in his drawings, watercolours, paintings, pastels and prints depicting youth and old age. In addition to Picasso’s works, the exhibition includes photographs of the artist taken by renowned photographers. The exhibition was produced in collaboration with the Ludwig Museum in Cologne.
Hilma af Klint – Paintings for the Temple 28.1.–26.3.2000
Inspired by spirituality and spiritualism, Paintings for the Temple stand out in Hilma af Klint’s production due to their figurative approach. The exhibition includes nearly 200 works by af Klint, widely regarded as a pioneer of abstract art, with several pieces being shown to the public for the first time. Produced in collaboration with Liljevalchs Konsthall in Stockholm, the exhibition features works from the collection of the Hilma af Klint Foundation.
Marjaana Nyström – Teddy Bears’ Christmas 24.11.2000–14.1.2001
The exhibition, suitable for the whole family, leads up to the Christmas season. It features a selection of antique teddy bears from the extensive collection of Marjaana Nyström, a Turku-based artisan, collector, and bear maker.
Janne Laurila 6.10.–19.11.2000
The exhibition presents Laurila’s subdued colour palette – black, white and various shades of grey – alongside his clean, geometric forms. The untitled paintings subtly evoke urban landscapes or their details, abstracted from their original contexts.
Jussi Lepistö – Men 5.5.–11.6.2000
The thesis exhibition by Lepistö, a graduating student of the Arts Academy at Turku UAS, captures the spirit of the times by juxtaposing plastic Lego figures with traditional cone cows crafted by earlier generations, encouraging playfulness among both children and adults.
Miika Karttunen – PLUS=MIINUS 16.6.–16.7.2000
The spatial installation consists of nine sculptures depicting boys, crafted from mirrors and placed right below the roof windows. The reflective surfaces invite interaction, enabling viewers to see their own faces in the artwork.
Marje Pellinen – Holy Cow! 17.3.–30.4.2000
Pellinen’s artworks feature cow imagery printed on aluminium, fabric and plexiglass. The theme is emphasised in the exhibition hall, where feed intended for cattle is hung on the walls as part of the display.
Tiina Vainio – Everyday Talismans 28.1.–12.3.2000
The exhibition serves as a commentary and a counterbalance to Hilma af Klint’s Paintings for the Temple, filling the museum’s main halls. Vainio’s stylised paintings draw inspiration from everyday mysticism and items charged with personal meaning and memories.
