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Art has been a central way of imagining and narrating Finland. The exhibition Our land, for all, which combines art and fashion, invites visitors to reflect on how ideas of Finnishness have emerged and changed at different times: whose perspectives have shaped the national identity, and whose voices are heard now and in the future.

The 20th anniversary exhibition of the Association of Finnish Fine Arts Foundations brings together works selected from the collections of ten art foundations and puts them into dialogue with contemporary fashion. The exhibition is curated by PhD, docent Annamari Vänskä.

The rich exhibition creates space for diverse voices and perspectives. At Kunsthalle Helsinki, beloved classic works are shown alongside contemporary artworks that are less often exhibited and new acquisitions by the foundations: painting, photography, textile art and moving image. The works in the exhibition range from the late 19th century to the present day. Alongside the works selected from the foundations’ collections, the exhibition also includes pieces by contemporary designers for whom fashion is a tool for critical thinking and expression. They examine the body, identity and Finnishness through materials and form, expanding the idea of what fashion can be. 

Our land, for all celebrates the ability of art and fashion to narrate, imagine and build an open Finland that belongs to everyone. It is a reminder that art and design are not only images and objects, but ways of thinking and conversing. They help us understand different perspectives and keep values visible even when there is no consensus about them.

Our land, for all. Kunsthalle Helsinki (Nervanderinkatu 3, Helsinki) 20 March–17 May.