On November 6, 2024, as part of the “Beijing Design Week Guest City” program, the art exhibition “Antonio López y los Maestros del Realismo Español” officially opened at Train Street in the 798·751 Community. This exhibition showcases 45 exquisite works by eight renowned Spanish artists and will be open to the public from November 6 to December 15.
The installation view of the exhibition (1)
The exhibition is organized by the Embassy of Spain in China, in collaboration with the Spanish National Tourist Office and Instituto Cervantes. It also benefits from the professional expertise of the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museo Nacional and Estudio de Antonio López y María Moreno, with additional support from Beijing Design Week and 798 Culture Technology Co., Ltd.
Antonio López, a leading figure in Spanish art history, is often referred to as a “maverick of the Spanish art scene.” Known for his unparalleled ability to bring reality to life on canvas, López’s profound depictions of urban landscapes and portraits have earned him the title of “the greatest living realist painter.” His work bridging traditional techniques with modern contexts. Alongside López, works by seven other contemporary realism masters across various media offering a comprehensive view of Spanish realist art.
Guests visiting the exhibition (1)
This exhibition provides Beijing residents with a rare opportunity to experience the exceptional artistry and profound themes of Spanish realist masters up close, fostering deeper insights into Spain’s history, culture, and social realities.
As China’s largest cluster of art and creative industries, 798·751 has long been dedicated to promoting cross-cultural exchange. The “Antonio López and Spanish Realist Masters” exhibition at Train Street embarks on a new cultural journey, reinforcing 798·751’s reputation as a “Global Art Destination” and deepening the dialogue between Chinese and Spanish artistic spirits.
Guests visiting the exhibition (2)
This year, through the “International Art Season,” 798 Culture Technology Co., Ltd. has hosted a variety of international and multicultural events. Leveraging its contemporary art strengths and Chaoyang District’s role as an “international pioneer” and “cultural innovator,” the International Art Season fosters global exchange and cooperation. It also attracts more international cultural and artistic institutions to the community, driving industrial upgrades and further solidifying its global influence.
In the era where almost all the information is accessible in Internet in posts like this one, it is really difficult to consider a place a real “hidden gem” in a touristic city, overall if that city is Bangkok, with the huge influx of visitors, social media gurus, tourists etc that receives in yearly basics.
However, I bet you a coffee that probably you have never visited Bangkok Dolls Museum. Pretty much cause its location is not so easy to reach (I had to walk around 30 minutes from Victory Monument BTS and got a bit lost before finding its correct street, but during my path I found another small and great hidden gem park “Suan Santi Phap” that might be worthy of a separated own post). And also because their visiting hours are pretty restricted, as it opens just on Saturday mornings until 3:00pm.
Once I arrived to the house, because the museum itself is pretty much based on a couple of big rooms on the ground floor of a beautiful gated villa house, I was not even sure if the place was open. But the owner kindly opened the gates for me, and not only that, but as I was the only visitor, I had the chance to have a small private tour while he explained a bit about the history of the place.
I can say that this is one of the most charming and authentic “museums” that I have ever visited in my life. It is not big and can be visited in a few minutes, it is a bit dusty and some sections are chaotic, but it just exhales Thai tradition all over.
The museum was founded in 1956 by Tongkorn Chandavimol, a lady who became a famous doll maker after studying in Japan, even winning the International Folklore Dolls competition in Krakow (Poland). His son, a friendly a charming elder, keeps the tradition of the handmade dolls making and the place running and open to the big public every Saturday honoring the legacy of his mother. He proudly showed me the trophy that the city of Krakow gifted her as a guest as well as the prize for the competition winning.
The family’s love for traditional folklore dolls can be seen at the museum, cause apart from very beautiful displays of Thai dolls, there is also a section with pieces collected or gifted to the family from other different regions of the world, such as Russia, Spain, Finland, etc.
There is a chance also of buying some of the original dolls from the family there at the museum. These dolls were so renamed years ago that even the Royal Thai Family gifted them to foreign dignitaries when they had some official trips abroad. So although they can be a little bit more pricey than what you can find in some night market, I think that they represent a special unique souvenir to bring or gift to a loved one from Thailand, as these dolls are a part of Thai art’s history.
Bangkok Dolls Museum address:ติดร้าน7-11 และคอนโด K J S 85 ซอยหมอเหล็ง ซอยรัชฏภัณฑ์ Makkasan, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400
Bangkok does not lack of great cafes scattered all over the city, with a great variety of flavors, decoration, food options and thematics. However, finding a cosy cafe with super friendly staff, open terrace space and that makes you feel like resting in an oasis in the middle of the chaotic city is a little bit more complicated.
In our endless hunt to explore the hidden gems that Bangkok has to offer, our path led to a recently new open cafe in Sathorn area: Just a Garden.
Mind that the place is a bit difficult to find, as it is located in a beautiful townhouse style area in a narrow street, and a good 20-25 minutes walk from the nearest bts/metro stations. But once I found it, it became instantly at first sight one of my favorite spot in the city!
As said, Just a Garden is a cafe with a big open garden style space around the building, which makes it perfect for people like me who likes sitting outside, enduring the humid heat, but having the pleasure of a smoke while reading a book or chatting with a friend. The interior walls are decorated with really nice graffiti from some artists from the Thai community.
The “artsy” feeling is also found inside the cafe building itself, as it really gives you a chilling vibe all around. You can sit comfortably in some sofa and choose a book to read downstairs while you order a drink, or you can even head to the 2nd floor, that has an amazing atmosphere to relax or even do some remote nomad work, sorrounded by cool paintings.
I had the chance to chat a bit with the owner, a very nice guy half Thai/German and his partner, and they transmitted me their desire to create this chill space where people could feel comfortable and escape from the city. They also seem to organize different workshops and events there, so it is not only a nice cafe but also a small cultural hotspot.
If all what I said before still did not convince you to give it a try, I must say in full honesty that the ice caramel latte that I ordered was one of the most delicious one that I tasted in Bangkok, and this is coming from a Spaniard for whom coffee is almost a religion! :) Fantastic, I hope other beverages in their menu are as tasty as that one I tried!
I will definitely go back to Just a Garden, as it is a place that has everything I dream of when I want to relax in a cafe: friendly staff, chilled vibe, amazing outdoor and indoor space and a cultural vibe.
Oh, and I almost forgot to mention 2 more important details: first is that their opening hours are really friendly, as they open most days until 8, 9 or 10pm, opposite to other cafes in Bangkok that are closing around 5 or 6 pm, and secondly is that they also sell craft beers! So you can decide to use the place as a chilled place for caffeine or tea, or as a more social spot where to enjoy some quality beers with friends.
Maybe not so hidden gem after all, as the location receives a relatively fair amount of tourists and visitors, specially at weekends, but still located off the beaten track in Bangkok, you can find the picturesque Artist’s House located inside Bang Chak Temple Community area, a place that can also be visited in some of the Bangkok channel water tours that are offered in any tourist agency.
The Artist’s House is an old style wooden house reconverted into a cafe and cultural area, and its original decoration plus the beautiful views close to the water channel and some beautiful temples make it a desired destination to run away from other more busy parts of Bangkok and expect a few hours taking some beautiful pics and walking on parallel to the channel.
During my visit, I could see how some courses for painting and for handicraft are performed, so it is a good place to awake your artsy side. You can also buy some handicrafts souvenirs, and taste some delicious coffee while sitting close to some quaint sculpture. The cafe also counts with a second floor where paintings from local artists are displayed, and that also counts with a workshop area. If you get hungry during your visit there are some places around the cafe selling typical Thai food.
To reach the place is not easy so maybe a taxi or bike taxi ride can help. But it is also possible to go with public transportation if you go to metro stop Bang Phai in the metro blue line (it will take you around 30 minutes from Sukhumvit/Asoke station) and then walk along some narrow streets for around 15 minutes. Remember if the weather is very hot to do some stops to buy water as you could feel easily dehydrated with the humid heat of the Thai capital.
If you are planning to have a long stay in Bangkok or you live here, I fully recommend to go to explore this place one day. It is original, it is beautiful and it is also a delight for taking cute pics for your social media.
798 Art District and 751 D·Park, two of Beijing’s most iconic cultural industry parks, have announced their merger, a move set to enhance the city’s cultural landscape. This merger will provide larger venues for cultural events, enabling visitors to move seamlessly between the two parks without barriers. The “Summer Rhythm” event in August was directly benefited from this collaboration, highlighting the advantages of the merger by bringing together art institutions and commercial entities in both parks to boost the local nightlife scene.
“Summer Rhythm” Event Poster
Tracing back to June 25, 2024, when Beijing Electronics Holdings Co., Ltd. hosted an inaugural meeting to launch the Culture and Technology Platform in Beijing, plans were unveiled to merge the spaces, brands, and resources of 798 and 751, with the aim of creating a world-leading platform that integrates culture and technology. This initiative seeks to harness technological innovation to fuel cultural creativity and drive urban growth through cultural development.
Over more than two decades, the 798 Art District has emerged as a hub for contemporary art in China, while 751 D·Park has set a benchmark in fashion design. Despite their shared industrial heritage, each park has developed distinct cultural characteristics.
798 Art District on weekend
The newly merged parks will form the largest art and creative industry cluster in China, spanning over 500,000 square meters and hosting more than 600 entities. These include a diverse range of industries such as visual art, design, music, film and theater, media, technology, fashion, automobiles, architecture, and culinary arts. Following the merger, the 798-751 complex will further enhance its infrastructure to enrich Beijing’s public cultural activities.
Drama Summer – Beijing Drama Carnival Event Scene
Like the “Summer Rhythm”, a series of events including the 798 International Art Season, Drama Summer – Beijing Drama Carnival, 798 Art Festival, and the 751 Tech-Culture Festival will be held in the second half of 2024 with the doubled power. In the near future, multiple events in 798-751 will dramatically boost cultural consumption, inject innovative energy into the cultural industry, and establish the area as a cultural tourism destination in Beijing, recognized for its “International Vision, Art Leadership, Fashion Consumption, and Industrial Heritage.”
Bangkok has an almost endless array of amazing places to visit, as the big megalopolis that it is. But for the long term visitor or the resident of the Thai city, as it happens in any other city in the world, when you have lived here for long time and have already shown a few times the Royal Place, the reclined Buddha, the most famous night markets… you start to feel the hunger for discovering those “hidden gems” off the beaten track.
One of these places that most visitors never visit is Sam Sen Nai Philatelic Museum. And there I was headed on a free day, driven both by my hunger to discover new places and also, why not to say, by my hunger as a collector, as I do not collect stamps per se, but I have collected since I was a child coins and notes from all over the world
The place has a lot of positive things to make it a small hidden gem in the capital:
First of all, its location is really convenient, as it is just opposite to Saphan Khwai BTS stations, a very short walk away. Just mind that you will have to go inside the postal complex, and that there are no clear signs to guide you in English (mostly written in Thai around), so remember that it is on the 2nd floor, and do not do like me, who went to the upper floor by the upstairs and I had to catch my breath on my way back to the right floor :)
The second great thing is that the small museum is totally FREE. No entrance fee, so you just can happily walk in. And another good thing for you is that not being so popular, is quiet and you have all the space to explore with total tranquility.
The exhibition per se can be seen really quick, but I think that the best charm the museum has is its stamp collection per se, that is divided per continents and countries in sliding shells. You can really get lost watching the amount of beautiful stamps with different motives, from animals to popular artists, from all over the world. And of course the shining part of the collection is the area dedicated to the Thai stamps themselves.
One final great feature that the museum has is that you can buy some local Thai stamps for a bargain price, plus the ladies at the cashier were really super friendly and happy to help (probably they are bored with the lack of visitors and they appreciate anybody who decides to pass by). So if you are a stamp collector, or you just want to buy some small and light local gift for a friend, this is also a great opportunity to purchase some beautiful Thai stamps. I bought a few, among them some that were portraying the local beautiful Siamese fighter fish, for 1.5 euro total.
If you are a philatelic enthusiasms, if you are running out of ideas about what to visit next in Bangkok, or if you just happen to be around Saphan Khwai BTS area with some free time, go and give it a try. Meanwhile we will continue on the hunt of more Bangkok hidden gems for the delight of the audience!
Bangkok has a huge offer to discover for visitors of all tastes: amazing rooftops, wild dive bars, beautiful parks, cosy cafes, some of the most amazing temples in the world and interesting museums.
But it is true that like any other city in the world, once you live here for some years, even when there is almost always a new place to discover, you start to struggle with new locations that can put a “Waw” in your mouth.
Last Saturday I was doing a quick search online to find some hidden gems in the Thai capital that I would have not visited yet, and the Batcat Museum & Toys caught my eye.
Let’s be honest, if you are a person who enjoys taking a million selfies in the terrace of a cafe and have 0 interest in cinema, figures or Japanese manga, probably this place would not be for you. However, as my case it is really the opposite and I love retro video games, Japanese toys and figures, fantasy cinema, manga etc, I thought that I would give this place a shot, as I was a bit surprised that in more than 2 years living in Bangkok I had never heard of it.
The museum is not far from the central Sukhumvit area, but it is not in a main street, but in some alley street in Bang Kapi area, so I recommend as the easiest way just to go by taxi/Grab there, which should not cost you more than 150 bath approx. if you are in Asoke area or its surroundings.
Once I arrived, surprises already start to pop in front of your eyes. Graffitis with manga characters, a Batman car model casually parked in the building garage.. this is promising!
I entered the museum, which pretty much is a kind of 3 store residential building converted into museum, and I get greeted by the owner himself, wearing a cool Batman t-shirt, and his little daughter, wearing a twin Batman t-shirt :) Sweet!
The entrance to the museum costs 200b, and in full honesty, first I thought it was a bit overpriced. My expectation was that I would see the exhibition in just 10/15 minutes. How mistaken I was!
After paying the ticket, the owner led me to the upper floor of the museum and just explained me that I was free to roam around all the floors. I arrived at around 16:00 and the place closes at 17:00, so I went right at it. Funnily and a bit sadly, I was the only visitor at that time there. In that sense it gave me the privilege to chat a bit more here and there with the owner, who kindly explained me that he had dedicated 20 years of his life to gather that collection and that the Batman area was his favorite and most pampered, and the one he had put more effort into! He also kindly showed me some vintage figures of Batman when I asked him what were his favorite items, telling that they could cost around 2 million baht (more than 50 thousand euro).
So… what is there to see in the 3 stores of the museum, you might still be wondering… Well, pretty much fucking everything!!! The collection, comprising more than 60.000 pieces, is just breathtaking. I just hope that the photos that I add to the article make some kind of justice to the place, cause wherever you would look at, something amazing was displayed in front of your eyes: figures from Knights of the Zodiac, Star Wars, Kamen Rider, Marvel, Captain Tsubasa, Lego… the list goes on and on. Big and small, in all kind of shapes and colors, and everything displayed with taste, so even with the huge amount of items there, you could feel like it was easy to walk around every floor.
The Batman last floor, as the owner and director of the museum explained, was already a delight by itself. For a fan of retro-video games as myself, I casually spotted some jewels like the Batman Sunsoft for Megadrive or the Batman 2 for Famicom, among the other hundreds of incredible items.
I am a person who has traveled a bit and has had my share of displays of figures, toys and nerdie stuff. I have been in Japan, I have roamed the Mega Mall in Bangkok Chinatown… but still, this was like a dream I did not want to wake up from. Like getting a free VIP personal pass to Willy Wonka’s factory with all you can eat chocolate. I really could not refrained myself from exclaiming aloud in excitement and disbelief to the amazing stuff displayed there.
So… if you have some minimal interest in vintage toys, Japanese culture and manga, cinema… or if you have kids and they do like any of those things, just visit there! You will not regret my advice. I cannot believe that this place is not more popular and nobody talks about it in Bangkok social media groups. I was surprised, I was shocked and I was delighted that in some random Soi in Bangkok could be gathered such an incredible amount of gems. I have no idea how the owner was able to buy all that collection, which must cost a fortune all together, but I feel proud to have been able to experience a little fairytale during the hours I was roaming the place there, and surely I will bring friends there again.
As a final note, apart from the amazing display in the museum, at the end of the tour the building also has a small shop close to the cafe, where you can buy from a small but cosy selection of well priced figures and toys. I got myself a beautiful Batman Hot Wheels model as a small memorabilia token.
Bettina Cirone: Aperture on New York City, 1960-1980 presents Bettina Cirone’s (b. 1933) photographs of her native New York during the 1960s-1980s. During her career in photography, Cirone worked as architecture, sports, fashion, and celebrity photographer. The exhibition features her photos of New York City in the 1960s-1980s, from Muhammad Ali to Salvador Dalì and Andy Warhol, from New York street scenes to hedonistic nightlife at Studio 54.
The exhibition is organized in collaboration with Finnish American Studies Association and SAM-Helsinki.
UNHEALED 2.3 – 15.9 2024 Moderna Museet Malmö Turbine Hall and Loading Dock
Artists: Asim Abdulaziz, Aya Albarghathy, Muhammad Ali, Héla Ammar, Marwa al-Sabouni, Selim Ben Sheikh, Shady Elnoshokaty, Safaa Erruas, Hadia Gana, Khaled Hafez, Diana Jabi, Rachid Koraichi, Moataz Nasr, Adrian Paci, Mario Rizzi, Fethi Sahraoui, and Mouna Jemal Siala
Curators: Abir Boukhari and Joa Ljungberg
The international group exhibition “Unhealed” delves into the aftermath of the uprisings and revolutions, that swept through the Arab world starting in 2010. These events altered the lives of millions of people, many of whom, as a consequence, now live in Sweden. With this exhibition, Moderna Museet Malmö proudly presents seventeen artist who, in different ways, have addressed this tumultuous and still unfolding chapter in history.
In my life, I have seen hope and despair entangled in relentless cycles, in Arab countries as well as in the rest of the world. Every sunrise brings a glimmer of hope – of a better life, a new beginning – only to vanish again when fate stubbornly repeats: “Not this time”, says Abir Boukhari, co-curator of “Unhealed”.
The exhibition “Unhealed” portrays existential experiences amid major social upheaval. It navigates through feelings of hope and despair, bringing us beyond political analysis. Through sculpture, painting, drawing, film and photography, it embodies a poetic narrative rather than a strict historical account. The contributing artists are predominantly based in Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen, but also in Albania, Italy, Romania, and Sweden.
When I first asked Abir to collaborate on this project, she was hesitant; the subject was still too much of an open wound. Now, several years later, we are about to realise this exhibition. It feels both powerful and important, particularly when considering all those directly affected who now live in Sweden, says Joa Ljungberg, co-curator of “Unhealed”.
Programme and events during the exhibition period:
March 2: Walk-and-talk: special guided tour with the artists Muhammad Ali, Héla Ammar, Selim Ben Cheikh, Shady Elnoshokaty, Safaa Erruas, and Khaled Hafez. Led by the curators Abir Boukhari and Joa Ljungberg. March 2: No to Division: Workshop on social cohesion with the artist Mouna Jemal Siala. May 4: The war on cultural heritage: lecture by the author Anders Rydell. May 18: Artist meetings – Additional artists working in the region and addressing the exhibition’s themes present their works. May 23: The possibilities of architecture to create and counteract conflicts: lecture by the Homs based architect Marwa Al-Sabouni (digitally).
For updates, visit the website: www.modernamuseet.se
During the exhibition period, the workshop at the museum will be activated under the guidance of the artist Rami Khouri. Visitors to the exhibition are welcome to sit down and work with clay and text on their own, as well as during specific workshop sessions.
Moderna Museet Malmö, part of the state-owned Moderna Museet, is funded by the City of Malmö, Skåne Regional Council and the Swedish Government.
The highly anticipated sixth Vilnius Light Festival has begun, and has already transformed Vilnius’s streets into illuminated art. Artists from the Netherlands, Poland, France, Lithuania, and the UK began showcasing their installations yesterday, bringing thousands of people eager to see newly interpreted urban areas within the city.
January 26, 2024. The tradition to brighten up the post-holiday slump in January is going strong in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. The sixth annual Vilnius Light Festival returned to the streets, courtyards, and alleys of the Old Town on January 25. It is expected that around 200K visitors will visit the festival, as every year.
Vilnius is celebrating its 701st anniversary on the 25th of January with the Vilnius Light Festival while entering a new century after the jubilee year, a grand celebration that brought together more than 150 partners and hosted hundreds of festive events. During this time, the capital of Lithuania was celebrated as one of the 100 best cities to live worldwide by Euromonitor, while the country is among the top 20 happiest nations according to the World Happiness report. Additionally, Vilnius was awarded as the 2025 European Green Capital.
In 2024, the Vilnius Light Festival program consists of two parts: the main one with curator-selected installations and the second with initiatives by culture, arts, science, education, and business organizations, concluding to 20 light art installations.
This weekend, the Old Town draws visitors with unique venues like the Arts Printing House. Housed in a 16th-century printing house, this contemporary arts center showcases two light installations. One, called Flux by Polish artist Ksawery Komputery, explores virtual communication through 4,800 meters of LED strings and 144,000 pixels, unveiling hidden algorithms of virtual meetings. Another installation is Continuum presented in the yard of Lithuania’s presidential palace, by the UK artist duo Illumaphonium. The piece transforms the urban landscape with geometric mirrors, mesmerizing light, and sound monoliths while asking how we identify the city’s space where we live. Additionally, the capital invites visitors to dive into the alternate space-themed Vilnius through a mockumentary by artist Rimas Sakalauskas, offering a speculative vision of the city’s creation, history, and life beyond Earth.
The Vilnius Light Festival is open January 25–28 from 6 PM to 11 PM. It is important to check the description of each installation for the exact visiting times. Visitors can find all the festival routes in the map provided by the organizers and easily plan their commuting in the city area. Additionally, the festival’s app with routes and installation information is available on Google Play and App Store.
Gallen-Kallela Museum 10 February – 26 May 2024 Tarvaspää, Espoo
The Juxtapositions exhibition engages in a dialogue on the similarities and differences of Gallen-Kallela’s and Kaivanto’s art. The focus is not necessarily on the artists’ best-known works, but also on their diversions, sidesteps and sketches. The exhibition is based mainly on the collections of the Gallen-Kallela Museum and Kimmo Kaivanto Foundation, and Kimmo Sarje (PhD) is the curator of the exhibition.
Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1865–1931) and Kimmo Kaivanto (1932–2012) were among the most important Finnish artists of their generation. Their talent as drawers, narrative approach and versatility of expression unite the masters. As painters, both artists blazed a trail with their renditions of Finnish landscapes. Gallen-Kallela and Kaivanto were keen builders and designers. Both also took a political stance: Gallen-Kallela as a national romantic and adjutant to General C. G. Mannerheim and Kaivanto with his pacifist and ecological artworks.
The exhibition begins in the studio of Tarvaspää’s artist residence with an array of artworks connected to or inspired by the artists’ almost mythical workspaces. The place is an exhibit in itself, complemented by a series of sketches of the house and a painting depicting the construction of the building. The wilderness studio of Kalela is presented in moonlight and Kaivanto’s Arkkusaari is shown lit by a flash of lightning. Also included are artworks of the interior of the Arkkusaari studio and the south end of the building. The artist’s Images on Arkkusaari 24.–29.6.1974 (Aleatoric Landscape) aims to capture the spirit of Arkkusaari.
Hugo Simberg’s graphic prints of Gallen-Kallela tell a story of friendship. Kaivanto’s painting Simberg’s Scale (2000) is a tribute to a respected colleague. Decadence and decay are touched upon in the so-called “etching room” leading from the studio to the rotunda, where Kaivanto’s Pub Genius (2002) and Gallen-Kallela’s Martyr in the Cause of Art (1893) exchange views.
The war-themed drawings from Kaivanto’s childhood showcased in a display case in the space leading to the rotunda provide an introduction to the themes exhibited there. In them, war and warriors and the act of questioning them take stock, whilst the love of a mother and a spouse weighs up the cost of heroism. Is it their instinct that beckons or the longing for freedom?
The verses of the workers’ poet Kössi Kaatra in the wake of the General Strike in Tampere Central Square in 1905 parallel with Väinämöinen and his troops defending the Sampo; Joukahainen harbouring thoughts of revenge; Kullervo close to death heading on a crusade, and the criticism of the military junta that tormented Greece in the late 1960s. Gallen-Kallela’s Mannerheim’s Lackey (1919), a portrait of the general’s military servant, and Kaivanto’s Grandson serigraph (1969), which explores men’s eroticism, raise questions and the latter in particular evokes associations with Tom of Finland’s male images.
Since the 1960s, Kaivanto’s art has offered a reminder of the fragility of nature and life under the stranglehold of our technological civilisation and greedy economic thinking. The difference with Gallen-Kallela, who praised wilderness, is evident. The parallels drawn between his Lake Keitele painting (1905) and Kaivanto’s When the Sea Dies (1970) serigraph illustrate the paradigm shift.
In Gallen-Kallela’s paintings, nature in one’s home country appears both as a value in itself and as a factor of national identity. Ultramarine, the blue of Kaivanto, where beauty and freedom merge, dominates comprehensively his collage So Willingly, So Willingly (1969) and links it to the mountainside in Gallen-Kallela’s Hwandoni Hills (1910). Kaivanto’s painting Spring Light (1964) appears as an expressive and Informalist development of Gallen-Kallela’s painting Lynx’s Den (1906). Both works of art are declarations of love tinged with longing for Finnish winter landscapes which are enlivened by the promise of spring.
Towards the end of the exhibition, Gallen-Kallela’s African souvenirs – the trophies exhibited in a display case – are juxtaposed with Kaivanto’s Balance collage (1968), which reflects on the state of the world. In the artwork, an awl nocked in a bow is aimed at an eggshell on the surface of which the artist has drawn a few of the meridians. The differences between Gallen-Kallela’s and Kaivanto’s concepts of nature become crystallised. Humans with their strengths and weaknesses as the masters of nature turn into humans as an inseparable part of the unity of nature.
euroart*, the “European Federation of Artist Colonies” presents a digital summer exhibition of European artist colonies. This summer, the theme of the exhibition is WATER. Many museums or cities and municipalities also exhibit the paintings presented in the digital exhibition. Visit some European artist villages this summer or view the exhibition virtually.
For the second time, euroart, the European Federation of Artist Colonies, is organising a digital summer exhibition. This can be visited in the museums and visitor centres of the participating Artist Colonies. This summer, the theme of the pictures is “WATER”. The participating Artists’ Colonies are from Belgium: Champion, Tervuren and Sint Martens Latem; from Denmark: Faaborg; from France Barbizon; from Germany: Heikendorf, Kronberg, Schwaan, Grötzingen, Prien am Chiemsee, “Schwarzes Haus” Solingen, Darmstadt and Bremen; from the Netherlands: Domburg, Katwijk, Laren, Nunspeet, and Volendam; and from Italy Taranto.
In this exhibition, the Solingen Artists’ Colony “Black House” presents one work each by the painter, Nazi opponent and exile Erwin Bowien (1899-1972) and by the internationally active landscape painter Bettina Heinen-Ayech (1937-2020). Erwin Bowien’s painting “The Sand Dunes in Egmond aan Zee, Netherlands, 1937” will be on display, and Bettina Heinen-Ayech’s “Flower Arrangement over Lake Maggiore in Ticino, Switzerland, 1955” has been selected.Look forward to the digital summer exhibition of European artists’ colonies on the theme of “WATER” and visit the various Artists’ Colonies. More at: www.euroart.eu.
*euroart – the European Federation of Artists’ Colonies – was launched in 1994. It was founded in Brussels under the auspices of the European Parliament and the European Commission. Euroart currently consists of about 70 member organisations, associated organisations and personal members in 13 European countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Russia. The members organise exhibitions together, exchange views, knowledge and artists. And at the annual meetings, they not only inform each other about developments in their respective colonies, they work together for greater cultural understanding and cooperation in a European context.
CHART, the leading Nordic event for contemporary art, announces its exhibitor list and a three-year collaboration with Tivoli Gardens which will bring contemporary art to the iconic amusement park for a whole month. The art fair and the public programme, will yet again take place at the historic Charlottenborg in central Copenhagen, August 24 – 27, and CHART in Tivoli will be open August 24 – September 24, 2023.
CHART has expanded the concept of the art fair into an event that incorporates architecture, design and book publishing, public programmes that reach a wide audience, and an around the year presence through its digital platform, CHART Journal. The tradition of a generous public programme continues with performances and music acts in the courtyards of Charlottenborg, free and open for everyone, that turns CHART into a celebration of the arts in the heart of Copenhagen. In addition, the CHART Book Fair, Talks, CHART in Tivoli and CHART Architecture, add to the rich programme. CHART, as a non-profit organisation, emphasises Nordic values that both shape and go beyond aesthetics; social awareness, democratic principles, forward thinking and collaborative practices.
The 2023 edition is the first under new director Julie Quottrup Silbermann, who has put a special focus on sustainable and socially conscious ways of collecting today and on introducing new entry points for collecting and supporting the art scenes.
Throughout time, collectors have played an important role in supporting artists and thus the entire artworld ecosystem. Subjective decision-making and experience of course often play a role in collecting, but I want to open up the discussion around the commercial art world, as a whole, to add insight and transparency about who is collecting, how they are doing it and why. (Julie Quottrup Silbermann, Director, CHART)
The Art Fair
The 37 exhibitors, consisting of both Nordic and international galleries, participating in the art fair at Charlottenborg, all share an active engagement with the Nordic art scene. Alongside established artists, the galleries will also present a new generation of artists that are achieving recognition both in the Nordics and internationally.
A new wave of female led galleries from across the Nordics are represented by galleries such as palace enterprise (DK), Saskia Neuman Gallery (SE), VAN ETTEN (NO), Sharp Projects (DK), Þula (IS), ISCA Gallery (NO) and Cora Hillebrand Galleri (SE), most are newly established or new additions among CHART participators.
CHART is thrilled to announce a 3-year partnership with Tivoli Gardens following last year’s successful collaboration. Every August and September for the next 3 years, Tivoli’s visitors will have the opportunity to experience a cultural environment unlike any other in central Copenhagen, as site-specific sculptures, installations and video works are installed alongside the park’s world-famous rides and attractions. The month-long exhibition will be open for all visitors to the iconic amusement park in Copenhagen.
CHART in Tivoli presents a fresh perspective on traditional exhibition formats. By placing artworks in the context of the historic amusement park Tivoli Gardens, the project offers a new opportunity to broaden the audience for contemporary art. Founded in 1843, Tivoli draws millions of visitors every year and is a well-known venue for performative arts, from ballet and theatre to pop and classical music, and continues to be one of Denmark’s most symbolic cultural locations. Through the exhibitions, CHART is proud to inspire new collaborations across Copenhagen’s cultural scenes and to expand the format for what an art fair can be.
CHART in Tivoli speaks to the core of our mission to bring the best of contemporary art in the Nordics out into the public space. With this new three year collaboration, we are excited to re-shape and re-define the space for contemporary art in our society today, making it more accessible and more inclusive for everyone. (Julie Quottrup Silbermann, Director, CHART)
CHART in Tivoli, will include artists with well-established international profiles, those with established reputations in the Nordic region as well as emerging artists gaining traction at the local, regional and international level. Among the confirmed artists are Sylvie Fleury (CH), FOS (DK), Inka & Niclas (FI/SE), Jonathan Meese (DE), Oliver Sundqvist (SE/DK). More information will be released in June 2023.
Beloved by many, hated by some and a controversial figure after his death, nobody can doubt anyway of the impact of Michael Jackson not only as one of the most important figures in the history of music, but in the general popular culture.
EMMA, the Espoo Museum of Modern Arts, holds this unique exhibition dedicated to the King of Pop with around 100 pieces of art from 48 artists in a collection formed by donations from private and public collections around the world that has been previously displayed in some of the most important cultural capitals of the world such as London or Paris.
Do not waste this chance to visit EMMA to see some unique art, with the highlight of the portrays of Jackson done by Andy Warhol, together with some interesting visual installation and documentaries dedicated to his figure. The ticket to the exhibition includes the access to the rest of EMMA museum, as well as entrance to the other museums located in the WeeGee building. A good suggestion to spend time during these gray days and get immersed in contemporary art alone, with friends or in the company of the whole family.
While the good summer weather lasts, it can be tricky when you are visiting Helsinki for a few days or when you are hosting foreign guests to think about interesting places to see not far from the city centre.
The island of Seurasaari is a little jewel to walk around when the weather is nice. Very conveniently located just 20-30 minutes from central Kamppi area, you can easily reach it by bus (line 24 goes there), by using one of the easily accesible city bikes or even by ferry from the Market Square during summer. A perfect destination to spend half a day when weather allows to enjoy outside.
A charming Open-Air Museum
If you want to travel back on time and imagine how was the rural landscape in different areas of Finland, the Open-Air Museum is certainly the highlight of the visit to the island. It has a great array of buildings from different eras, manors, farms, smoke houses, etc scattered around the beautiful landscape that the closeness to the sea gives to the sorroundings. There are many cafeterias where to stop by while taking stroll to have a coffee or a snack, activities for children like going for a ride on a pony and also local sellers have handcrafts on display for purchase.
TIP: The entrance of the museum is 10e per adult, but honestly, unless you are deeply interested in visiting the houses and see the utensils inside, you could skip that and just walk around the buildings on the island for free. So if you are on a low budget, you can skip buying a ticket to allow entrance inside the museum buildings.
Sunbathing and swimming
Seurasaari is also famous as a place for sunbathing and swimming. Just when you cross the bridge, walking to the right, there is a small beach where local citizens like to enjoy the sun and have a picnic. For the lovers of enjoying nature wearing nothing, there are also 2 nudists beach, separated from men and women. Entrance there requires a fee.
Among other amenities, the island also counts with barbecuing area, and it is specially popular to visit there during the Midsummer celebrations, where big bonfires are torched.
