Ars Fennica, KIASMA, through February 18, 2018
Ars Fennica is the most prestigious art award in Finland. It was established in 1990 by the art collectors Henna and Pertti Niemistö and includes a prize of EUR 40,000 for the winner of the award – a young artist from among four or five candidates selected by a panel of judges. This year the candidates are Maija Blåfield, the artist duo Pekka and Teija Isorättyä, Perttu Saksa, Kari Vehosalo, and Camilla Vuorenmaa. The media these artists work with range from photography and painting to sculpture, installations, and video art. The final decision is made by an expert from the international art world, and this year that expert is Beatrix Ruf, the director of the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. However, anyone can vote for their favourite candidate at the Ars Fennica 2017 exhibition, on show at the Kiasma museum of contemporary art in Helsinki until February 18. Both winners – the official prize winner and the winner of the people’s award – will be announced in February 2018.
Mannerheiminaukio 2
kiasma.fi
Photo: Pekka and Teija Isorättyä. Nature morte, 2017. Photo: Juha Åman