Welcome to the exhibition!
Taide muuttuvassa maassa (Art in a Changing Land) – the Collection of Nordea Art Foundation Finland at the Didrichsen Art Museum from 10 February until 26 May 2024. The exhibition brings some works from the Art Foundation’s collection to the wider public. These have only been displayed at the Old Banking Hall on Aleksanterinkatu in Helsinki and in joint exhibitions by the Association of Finnish Fine Arts Foundations. A representative selection of artworks from the beginning of 19th century to the turn of the 2000s has been chosen for the exhibition at Didrichsen.
These include the following works: The Lament of the Boat (Purren valitus, 1907) and C. G. E. Mannerheim (1929) by Akseli Gallen-Kallela and Silence (Hiljaisuus, 1907) by Helene Schjerfbeck. The abundant selection of modern art in the collection of the Art Foundation is represented by works such as Window (Ikkuna, 1944) by Sam Vanni, Three Cactus Flowers (Kolme kaktuskukkaa, 1950s) by Rut Bryk, Dialogue (Dialogi, 1967) by Juhana Blomstedt and Snake Flower (Käärmekukka,1986) by Leena Luostarinen. These works serve as a window into Finland’s history, reflecting the popular outlook of their era and the changing ideas of the nation.
The exhibition reflects the relationship between banks and art – subjects and artists – and shows individual artworks in their historical connection. Although the collection includes many different kinds of art, certain trends and common features can be discerned. The artworks showcase the Finnish landscape and people, the modern movement of the early 20th century and the strong influence of abstract art since the 1950s. The artworks have mostly been commissioned to be displayed in public premises, which placed some limits on the subjects portrayed.
Nordea Art Foundation has created two video presentations for the exhibition, one of the old bank building designed by Gustaf Nyström and built in 1898 on Aleksanterinkatu in Helsinki and the other of the portrait of C. G. E. Mannerheim by Gallen-Kallela.
The exhibition is curated by the Didrichsen Art Museum and Anu Kehusmaa, Director of Nordea Art Foundation Finland.
Nordea will offer its customers a discount of 2 euros for the exhibition entry fee when they pay with a Nordea card.
The exhibition will run from 10 February to 26 May 2024. Read more about the Didrichsen Art Museum: https://www.didrichsenmuseum.fi/.