Näkyväisiä
Welcome to the opening ceremonies on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, from 5–7 p.m!
The theme of our exhibition, ‘Näkyväisiä,’ is the world of the seen and the unseen. The works interpret this theme freely, through our own personal perspectives. The exhibition features sculptures, paintings, and an installation.
The word ‘invisible’ carries both a literal and a more abstract meaning (such as social invisibility). While its modern antonym is ‘visible,’ or ‘näkyvä’ in Finnish, our chosen Finnish title ‘Näkyväisiä’ is more archaic and solemn – a word used when the language is meant to be elevated or intentionally lofty. This makes it more versatile and nuanced than the simple modern alternative ‘näkyvä’.
A theme such as this inevitably leads us toward the various forms of humanity: for instance, nature, the individual, the superficialities and clichés of today’s world, mathematics, or a mythical and historical past. It is an emotional reaction – or perhaps, at times, a conscious, calculated choice. An artist often (one might say almost always) engages with a subject or theme of deep personal significance. Through their work, the artist can bring these meaningful elements visible – or even bestow upon them that archaic, solemn visibility (näkyväinen). Conversely, the artist also possesses the power to hide, making themes – whether significant or trivial – invisible. Often, this invisible world is the most compelling, as the artist refrains from revealing everything. Let this serve as an introduction to the realms explored by our group’s artists; let the art itself reveal the rest.