ARS22

Living encounters

ARS22 brings the freshest and most compelling works and cutting-edge artists to Kiasma, creating a space dedicated to shared experiences and community.

  • 8.4.–16.10.2022
4th and 5th floor.
Tickets: with a museum ticket

ARS22 uses art to create a shared world

Art has the power to investigate society and present alternative interpretations of our shared world. Works featured in ARS22 explore the everyday lives and dreams of individuals and communities. They raise questions about our relationship with the world, with nature and history, spirituality and technology.

The exhibition offers places for encounters and interaction. It also reminds us that individuality is ultimately always founded on the common conditions of life. The stories told by the artworks are entertaining while creating their own realities. They offer us an opportunity to think and see differently but also point out a way forward.

The very latest in contemporary art alongside historical works

ARS22 is the tenth instalment in the series of major international contemporary art exhibitions originally launched in 1961. Over the decades, the ARS exhibitions have presented the public with the latest trends in contemporary art.

ARS22 will present some of the most compelling artists and art of the day. The exhibition is a comprehensive view of the latest trends in international contemporary art. It also includes new artworks commissioned specifically for ARS22.

Visitors will also come across live art, as performative works are presented not only in Kiasma Theatre but also in the exhibition galleries.

ARS22 will be the first in the series to feature key works from the past decades, starting with the 1960s. They will provide historical background to topical themes and elucidate the history of the ARS exhibitions. Some of the featured iconic works come from Kiasma’s own collections; others are on loan from Finnish and international collections.

The exhibition culminates in autumn 2022 with the Lithuanian participatory opera Sun and Sea, which will be performed at the Merikaapelihalli venue in the Cable Factory. The work was awarded the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale in 2019. Its performance at the ARS22 exhibition is presented in collaboration with the Helsinki Festival.

Featured artists

The artists of the exhibition

5th floor

Evgeny Antufiev
Lewis Baltz
Sheela Gowda
Donna Huanca
Grada Kilomba
Vojtěch Kovařík

4th floor

Kholod Hawash
Arthur Jafa
Mervi Kytösalmi-Buhl
Luis Lázaro Matos
Frida Orupabo
Howardena Pindell
Joel Slotte
David Wojnarowicz

3rd floor

Marina Abramovic & Ulay
Francis Bacon
Sol Calero
Jimmie Durham
Annika Eriksson
Cyprien Gaillard
D Harding
Tehching Hsieh
Kimmo Kaivanto
Alex Katz
Eva Kot’átková
Essi Kuokkanen
Juha Pekka Matias Laakkonen
Joar Nango
Tuan Andrew Nguyen
Laure Prouvost
Anni Puolakka
Andra Ursuţa
Lynette Yiadom-Boakye

2nd floor

Farah Al Qasimi
Pia Camil
Anna Estarriola
Samson Kambalu
Danutė Kvietkevičiūtė
Michael Rakowitz
Jenna Sutela
Slavs and Tatars

ARS22 Live performances and events

Marja Ahti, Jenni Kalliokuju & Essi Kausalainen
Alexandra Bachzetsis
Alex Baczynski-Jenkins
Rugilė Barzdžiukaitė, Vaiva Grainytė & Lina Lapelytė
Anna Maria Häkkinen, Erno Aaltonen & Saara Töyrylä
Ima Iduozee
Mira Kautto, Roy Boswell & Ella Skoikka
Dafna Maimon
Mikko Niemistö
Amanda Piña
Alexandra Pirici
Michele Rizzo
Pia Maria Roll, Hanan Benammar & Sara Baban
SERAFINE1369

Featured artworks

Collaboration

Supported by

Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation
The Promotion Centre for Audiovisual Culture Finland
Saastamoinen Foundation
Ifa – Insitut für Auslandsbeziehungen
Berlin Ministry of Culture
Ministry of Culture, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
OCA Office for Contemporary Art Norway
The Swedish Finnish Cultural Foundation
British Embassy Helsinki
Embassy of Lithuania Helsinki
Embassy of Mexico Helsinki
Embassy of Norway Helsinki
Embassy of Portugal Helsinki
Helsinki Festival
City of Helsinki – Education division
Institut français de Finlande
Koiviston auto
The Finnish Glass Museum