Navigating North. Works from the Wihuri Foundation Collection. Until 2 April, 2023. Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma. Finland.

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.

Navigating North investigates links between the north and south. The themes of the exhibition—landscape, northern nature, and geographical and cultural crossroads—point towards how we are constantly navigating change. One of the recurring themes in the exhibition is the experience of belonging to a place or community and how that affects one’s identity. The featured artworks examine our relationship with the natural world and how we so often seek to shape the environment but also how we ourselves are defined by places. The Arctic north is a special region that today attracts interest globally for various political, economic, cultural and ecological reasons.

Elina Juopperi: Vaux-le-Vicomte, parterre dessiné, 2005-2013, pigmenttivedos paperille 1/5. Taiteilijan ilmoitus: Tekniikka: matka, hiustatuointi.
Dokumentointi: valokuva hahnemuhl paperille. Kehystetty valkoinen laatikko kehys. 90 x 135 cm
JAW_3115_00
kuva: Rovaniemen taidemuseo / Arto Liiti

The exhibition features works by 48 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 and Misha del Val, Merja Aletta Ranttila, Johanna Ruotsalainen and Simi Ruotsalainen, Stiina Saaristo, Juhani Tuominen, Kari Tuisku, Pauliina Turakka Purhonen, Seija Ulkuniemi, Maaria Wirkkala.

Marja Pirilä; Camera obscura – Alvar & Eerik, Rovaniemi, 2013, pigmenttivedos, pohjustettu dipondille, editio 1/7
JAW_3095_00
kuva: Marja Pirilä

The exhibition is curated by Saara Hacklin, Kati Kivinen and Satu Oksanen from Kiasma.