Kiasma is the dynamo of the future

I came to Kiasma only three years after its inauguration and the hype was still enormous. Although our resources have continually diminished, our standard and ability to create interest must not do so. We have to take a positive but realistic attitude towards the future.

When I look back, three things emerge that I am especially pleased with. The reform of collection displays, and giving the collections a more prominent role in general, are important to me. We have followed a stricter than hitherto thematic policy in our collection displays, making the exhibitions more approachable and interesting to the general public. Each collection display is also accompanied by an extensive exhibition catalogue. The series already has five volumes.

Exhibitions are of course part of my everyday work, but some of them have been especially important to me. The In Another World exhibition presenting contemporary Finnish folk art and international outsider art broadened the concept of contemporary art and opened doors to discussion on the boundaries of art. I had been involved in organising an exhibition of “self-made” art before, but Kiasma provided the forum in which to display contemporary Finnish folk art in an international context. The exhibition simultaneously attracted new audiences to the museum.

The Faster than History exhibition, which presented contemporary art from the Baltic countries, Finland and Russia, directed our eyes east. It also attracted wide international publicity as, at the time, post-Soviet art had not yet been displayed anywhere else to a comparable extent. Kiasma’s future exhibitions will also look east. February will see the opening of an exhibition displaying contemporary art from three major Asian countries, and in summer we will continue with an introduction to the art of the former Soviet republics of Central Asia.

Naturally, I cannot think of Kiasma without thinking of the ARS exhibitions. ARS 06 was a major effort for all of us at Kiasma and much more than just an exhibition. It proved that the ARS exhibitions mean a lot more to people than just a house full of contemporary art.

A third key aspect I, as the Director of Kiasma, have wanted to focus on is the Creativity Lab. This umbrella concept has allowed us to develop different projects promoting creativity and art, such as the Kiasma School on Wheels and URB on Tour, realised in collaboration with Vattenfall, and the joint the Art Renewing the Welfare Society project with Stakes and numerous other bodies. Key to the realisation of these projects is networking with various partners and the insight that the activities and significance of Kiasma exceeds exhibitions, collections and other events taking place in the Kiasma building. Thanks to the co-operation projects, Kiasma has become an important player and a sought-after co-operation partner. As I see it, it is in just this area that Kiasma has tremendous growth potential.

In future, Kiasma will be a dynamo, particularly as regards exhibition activities and the Creativity Lab. I sincerely hope that the close relationship that has emerged between Kiasma and artists will be fostered and that it will bring similar joy to my successor.

Tuula Karjalainen
Museum Director