Archive for June 2008
A gateway between Finnish and international art
A gateway between Finnish and International art
Susan Fourtane
Helsinki Times
KIASMA celebrated its 10th Anniversary with a successful art festival last weekend.
Those who attended the celebration maybe wondered about its history or at least felt a bit of curiosity for the people in pink suits they saw around. Why pink? Let’s find out!
In 1998 Mikka Häkkinnen won his first world championship. Matti Ahtisaari was President of Finland. The local currency was the Finnish markka. Kiasma opened its doors to the art lovers on 30 May.
The idea of a Contemporary Art Museum started in the late 30s. Until 1990 the Contemporary Art was in the Opera building.
In 1992 Finland received 563 proposals product of an international competition from which Chiasma, (Crossing) by the American architect Steven Holl, was selected.
“As soon as Tula Arkio, Kiasma’s first director, saw Chiasma, a miniature made of clay accompanied by drawings she realized the architect knew about art, how the artists think and how to value the space art needs. The other proposals were made of paper and cardboard”, explains Milla Unkila, Communications Manager at Kiasma.
The construction started in 1996 followed by a competition on the fence. A student from the Art and Design University proposed painting it in pink. The proximity of the museum to Mannerheim’s statue was debated. At the end, grey faced the Marshal.
The original pink fence was cut into small pieces and nowadays they serve as a free-entrance ticket for those who bring the piece to the museum.
The peculiar story of the pink fence remains as one of the colours in Kiasma.
Holl decided to build a wall on the fifth floor separating the exhibition hall and the panorama window. “If art wouldn’t have its space it would compete with the view.” Ulkila quotes Holl.
Kiasma is one of the few museums in the world which concentrate on Contemporary Art with artworks dating from the 1960s onwards.
The Anniversary exhibition, Fluid Street, explores how we interpret and use the public stage.
With its 126 artworks, Image and After proposes introspection in the meaning of images and how they manifest in Contemporary Art.
Besides bringing the most interesting and influential international art, Kiasma gives space to Finnish young artists. An exhibition in Studio K gives artists an opportunity to make their dream come true.
This autumn Kiasma will present Full House, an exhibition of Contemporary Art classics, in cooperation with the Guggenheim Museum in New York and Drawn in the Clouds, an Asian exhibition with the sky as theme
Happy Birthday, Kiasma!
ART, artists and art lovers will meet inside and outside Kiasma to participate in a variety of events as the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma celebrates its 10th anniversary with free entrance. Everyone can join and enjoy the birthday-weekend programme starting at noon on 31 May and 1 June.
Strip at the Kiasma Theatre: Have you ever wondered what it is like to hear a museum whispering sounds of art? The unique audio work that mirrors the experience of an art museum is a creation of the musicians Niclas Kristiansson, Roope Kinnunen and Matti Pentikäi- nen. Microphones were placed around Kiasma recording sounds in real-time to show us how Kiasma sounds.
Scenes in open rehearsal by Ville Walo: What is the essence of the reality of objects and people’s relationship to paper as a cultural construction material? Paper is a natural means of communication, we don’t think about its reality and much less about how it influences us. It is a thought-provoking, almost philosophical, travel through art, approached through juggling, the written word, sketches, film narration and vocal expression which will premiere in September.
Fifteen minutes of fame: Kiasma will feature street artists, dancers and musicians willing to express their creativity on a stage by the main entrance. Who knows? Maybe fame finds its way and new stars are born.
Pink surprises in the streets of Helsinki: All poetry lovers should pay attention to people dressed in pink suits wandering the streets of Helsinki giving letters. Guests who bring the letter to Kiasma can participate in writing a collective poem. Let your creativity and imagination flow, be a poet!
Several workshops are organised during the weekend. The Kiasma flea market can be something interesting to discover while music lovers delight themselves with DJ music in Café Kiasma.
For more information see: www.kiasma.fi.
SUSAN FOURTANE
HELSINKI TIMES
