Nature and landscape in focus
The Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation Collection is one of Finland’s most prestigious collections of contemporary art. It was donated to the City of Rovaniemi in 1983, and it is deposited at Rovaniemi Art Museum. This exhibition presents a selection of artworks from the Wihuri Foundation Collection chosen by Kiasma’s curators.
The exhibition looks north, featuring numerous artists who either come from northern Finland or reside there, highlighting themes related to the natural environment and local communities. One of its primary thematic concerns is the relationship between humans and nature. It portrays how nature is a source of life and strength, but also an object of control and exploitation upon which humans have left their imprint.
The exhibition features works by 48 artists.
Featured artists
Heini Aho
Lauri Astala
John Court
Tom Engblom
Petri Eskelinen
Radoslaw Gryta
Kaisaleena Halinen
Mia Hamari
Jaakko Heikkilä
Jussi Heikkilä
Marja Helander
Maija Helasvuo
Marjatta Holma
Irmeli Hulkko
Konsta Huusko
Eeva-Liisa Isomaa
Helena Junttila
Elina Juopperi
Hanna Kanto
Eemil Karila
Joel Karppanen
Kaija Kiuru
Ilona Kivijärvi
Tuomas Korkalo
Laura Könönen
Katri Kuparinen
Raakel Kuukka
Antti Laitinen
Kalle Lampela
Ville Mäkikoskela
Esko Männikkö ja Pekka Turunen
Arttu Nieminen
Leena Nio
Matti Nurminen
Outi Pieski
Marja Pirilä
Raisa Raekallio ja Misha del Val
Merja Aletta Ranttila
Johanna Ruotsalainen ja Simi Ruotsalainen
Stiina Saaristo
Juhani Tuominen
Kari Tuisku
Pauliina Turakka Purhonen
Seija Ulkuniemi
Maaria Wirkkala
Performance artists
Auri Ahola
Chiara Bersani
John Court
Pauliina Feodoroff
Gáddjá & Birit Haarla Pieski
Tuija Kokkonen
The Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation Collection
In 1942, the successful Finnish entrepreneur Antti Wihuri and his wife Jenny established the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation with the stated goal of “fostering Finland’s cultural and economic cultivation”.
The art collection had its inception in 1957 when the Foundation began supporting Finnish artists through art acquisitions.
Rovaniemi Art Museum was founded in conjunction with the collection being donated to the City of Rovaniemi. The museum has been based in the Korundi House of Culture since 2011.
The collection comprises roughly 3,500 works spanning from the 1940s to the present day, with approximately 50 new acquisitions added annually.
Collaboration
The exhibition is produced together with the Rovaniemi Art Museum and the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation.
The exhibition continues the collaboration between Finnish National Gallery and the Wihuri Foundation that was launched in 2017. Its most visible manifestation is the annual Wihuri Day, giving the public free admission to the Finnish National Gallery’s museums Kiasma, Ateneum and Sinebrychoff, courtesy of the foundation. The Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation celebrates the 80th anniversary of its founding in 2022.
After Kiasma, the exhibition will continue its run at Rovaniemi Art Museum from May 11 to October 1, 2023.
Curators
The exhibition has been curated by Kiasma curators Saara Hacklin, Kati Kivinen and Satu Oksanen.
