ARS FENNICA 2021

15 October 2021–3 April 2022

EIJA-LIISA AHTILA,. ANNE-KARIN FURUNES, JESPER JUST, VIGGO WALLENSKÖLD, MAGNUS WALLIN

ARS FENNICA, Finland’s most prestigious art prize, is awarded by the Henna and Pertti Niemistö Art Foundation. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the award in 2021, an exhibition at Hämeenlinna Art Museum will showcase a selection of the works by the nominees of ARS FENNICA 2021. The exhibition will run from 15 October 2021 until 3 April 2022.

ARS FENNICA 2021 Award nominees are Eija-Liisa Ahtila (Finland), Anne-Karin Furunes (Norway), Jesper Just (Denmark), Viggo Wallensköld (Finland), Magnus Wallin (Sweden).

The ARS FENNICA Award is presented every two years by the Henna and Pertti Niemistö Art Foundation. The award goes to an artist in recognition of distinctive artistic work of outstanding quality. The prize was first awarded in 1991. To honour its 30th anniversary, the prize has been raised to €50,000.

Over the past 30 years, 151 artists from the Nordic and Baltic countries and the St Petersburg region have been shortlisted for the prize. The latest shortlist, chosen by the foundation’s award panel, was announced in August 2021. The winner of the ARS FENNICA 2021 award will be chosen by world-renowned art expert Hans Ulrich Obrist. The winner will be announced in February 2022.

Henna and Pertti Niemistö donated their considerable art collection to Hämeenlinna Art Museum in 1995. The collection now continues to be expanded by Leena and Kari Niemistö. “With the 30th anniversary exhibition, we wanted to return to our roots and bring the ARS FENNICA exhibition back to Hämeenlinna,” said Leena Niemistö, Chairman of the Award Panel.

The ARS FENNICA 2021 exhibition is a collaboration between the Henna and Pertti Niemistö Art Foundation and Hämeenlinna Art Museum. It is supported by Pro Av Saarikko.

Find out more about ARS FENNICA award and ARS FENNICA 2021 Award nominees, please visit arsfennica.fi

ARS FENNICA 2021 Award nominees from left Eija-Liisa Ahtila, Viggo Wallensköld, Anne-Karin Furunes, Magnus Wallin and Jesper Just.

Eija-Liisa Ahtila, Horizontal – Vaakasuora, 2011, 6-channel projected installation, 6 min, 16:9, audio 5.1. Photo: Petra Kotro.
Anne-Karin Furunes, Shadows IV, 2021 (left), Shadows V, 2021 (right), perforated paper. Photo: Petra Kotro.
Jesper Just, Corporealités, 2020, 5-channel video installation, 6:12 min, synchronised loop, LED panels, autoclaved cellular concrete blocks, steel pipes. Photo: Petra Kotro.
Viggo Wallensköld, Opettaja / The Teacher, 2014, oil on canvas, Collection of the Aine Art Foundation, Aine Art Museum (left), Swing, 2017, oil on canvas (in middle), Talvi (2.) / Winter (2.), 2020, oil on canvas (right). Photo: Petra Kotro.
Magnus Wallin, Are you in pain… Not anymore No:19, 2021, aluminum, bone fragments, blood powder, acrylic (left), Are you in pain… Not anymore No:17, 2021, aluminum, blood powder, acrylic (right). Photo: Petra Kotro.