Published in 3/2020 - Craft

Exhibition

On Vyborg and Greece – Also Virtually

Mika Savela

As the corona epidemic eased its grip, the Museum of Finnish Architecture also re-opened in the beginning of June. Two new summer exhibitions are also open for virtual visitors. Video tours and additional materials can be found on the museum’s website – and a remote vernissage is happening on Helsinki Day, 12^th of June.

The main exhibition, curated by PhD Petteri Kummala sheds significant light into the life and works of Uno Ullberg, a Finnish architect especially prolific in the pre-WW2 era Vyborg in Carelia, nowadays part of Russia. Ullberg’s career in the multilayered and international city of Vyborg took an early turn towards Functionalism. Among his many works that still exist in the city, the Vyborg Art Museum (1930) finds especially iconic representation in the original black and white photos.

Another smaller exhibition, curated by PhD Timo Tuomi, offers a selection photos and travel sketches by Finnish architects, inspired by visits to ancient Greek sites. The name of the exhibition borrows a phrase by 19th century English poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, highlighting the major influence Greek art and history have had over Western culture – and architecture.

Even though online content created by museums has now boomed because of the pandemic, the easily accessible virtual tours do feel like great additions to the museum experience overall – and architecture exhibitions especially – even as we slowly return normal times. Both current exhibitions will also come out with informative publications. ↙