Gaze opens exhibition year 2027 at Serlachius

Favourites from the Serlachius art collection have been selected for the Gaze exhibition. Treasures hidden in the museum’s storage facilities will also be displayed, some for the first time in Mänttä.

The history of the Manor comes to life in the study of the Fine Arts Foundation’s founder, industrialist Gösta Serlachius. The study’s interior design evokes the atmosphere of its time. On what kind of works did Serlachius focus his gaze, and with what kind of pictures did he wish to surround himself as he amassed his collection?

Art tells about people: about everyday life, joy and suffering. At the same time, it tells us about values – about how people at different times wished to view the world and what has been considered beautiful, worth depicting. Through whose gaze has art history been constructed, who has been given the chance to be seen, who has been left out of sight?

The exhibition, curated by Laura Kuurne, Head of Collections and Exhibitions, will be on view at Serlachius Manor starting 6 February 2027.

IC-98: Sparks in the Black Night

The artist duo IC-98, formed by Visa Suonpää (b. 1968) and Patrik Söderlund (b. 1974), will fill Serlachius Headquarters in March 2027 with their extensive exhibition Sparks in the Black Night.

The duo, respected both domestically and internationally, are known for art that combines philosophy, history, social politics, rituals and architecture. Through their art, they seek alternative ecological understanding and more sustainable political solutions.

Serlachius will host IC-98’s most extensive museum exhibition to date, presenting the group’s most significant works of recent years while at the same time probing into the future. Plans for exhibitions extending into the 2030s will also be displayed.

Many of the exhibition’s works are linked to the story of the Mänttä paper industry and the Serlachius family.For example, the site-specific installation Gilgamesh (2027) will be built in the historic management rooms of the Serlachius company’s headquarters.

The exhibition, curated by Pauli Sivonen, Director of Serlachius, will be on display at Serlachius Headquarters from 20 March 2027 to 16 January 2028.

Pietro Ruffo: Cosmogenesis

Opening at Serlachius Manor in May 2027, the exhibition Cosmogenesis by Italian contemporary artist Pietro Ruffo (b. 1978) will take viewers on a multi-layered journey through the history of humankind and the cyclical universe.

Ruffo’s artistic inspiration is based on his architecture education, and it is reflected in his art in many ways. The multifaceted interpretations of his works address, in particular, the history of humankind and our relationship with, and impact on, nature.

Cosmogenesis refers to the origin and expansion of the universe. It combines intimate and human experience with the scale of the universe. The exhibition is the most extensive overview of Pietro Ruffo’s work to date and will fill several rooms at Serlachius Manor.

The exhibition is curated by Butterfly Art News curators David Chaumet and Butterfly, and will be on display at Serlachius Manor from 8 May to 10 October 2027.

Emma Helle: Crossing Over

What were the powers of the frog? What roles did the soul bird play? Figures from ancient myths and beliefs take on a new form in the hands of sculptor Emma Helte (b. 1979). Her extensive exhibition Crossing Over will open at Serlachius Manor in November 2027.

The themes of Emma Helle’s works draw on ancient mythologies and the tradition of Western art. Helle challenges our conventional notions of the body and gender roles, and often makes those who have previously been forgotten the main characters of her works.

The works in the exhibition lead the viewer on a journey along the flow of the world, between worlds, all the way to the afterlife. The form language varies from the rich sprawl of the ceramics to the reduced roughness of the wood sculptures.

The exhibition, curated by Eeva Ilveskoski, Curator at Serlachius, will be displayed at Serlachius Manor from 13 November 2027 to 9 April 2028.

Serlachius to produce Ellen Thesleff exhibition in Japan

Serlachius will produce Travel Light, an exhibition in Japan extensively presenting the work of Ellen Thesleff (1869–1954). The exhibition will open in November 2027 at the Tokyo Station Gallery and will travel to other locations across Japan in spring 2028.

Finnish art is attracting interest in Japan. Exhibitions have been presented there, ranging from Helene Schjerfbeck to the Moomins, from Finnish design to contemporary art. This time,  Japan will be introduced to the art of Ellen Thesleff.

Exhibitions have previously been produced by, among others, the Ateneum and the Helsinki Art Museum HAM. Now it is Serlachius’ turn, and the exhibition will include works from almost all of Finland’s significant Thesleff collections.

The exhibition, to be presented at Tokyo Station Gallery from 27 November 2027 to 13 February 2028, is curated by Pauli Sivonen and Ukrainian art historian Olga Tykhonova.