Helsinki Biennial 2025 Celebrates Art on Land and at Sea
Keiken: Ángel Yōkai Atā (detail) at Helsinki Biennial 2023. Photo: HAM / Helsinki Biennial / Perttu Saksa
The third edition of Helsinki Biennial will showcase the work of around 35 artists and artist groups across three distinct venues this summer: Vallisaari Island, Esplanade Park, and HAM Helsinki Art Museum. A preview list of the first eleven participating artists has now been announced. Taking Shelter as its theme, this major art event brings a summer-long celebration of art to the Finnish capital from June 8 to September 21, 2025.
Helsinki Biennial 2025 will present the work of around 35 artists and artist groups from Finland and around the world. Roughly half the featured works will be site-specific new commissions premiering in Helsinki. The first eleven participants announced to date are Band of Weeds (FI), Ana Teresa Barboza (PE), Sara Bjarland (FI/NL), Tania Candiani (MX), Olafur Eliasson (DK/IS), Geraldine Javier (PH), LOCUS / Thale Blix Fastvold & Tanja Thorjussen (NO), nabbteeri (FI), Ernesto Neto (BR), Otobong Nkanga (NG/BE), and Hans Rosenström (FI).
“Inviting one and all, Helsinki Biennial is a summer-long celebration of art hosted with a big heart. We look forward to offering the public a memorable experience by presenting the work of world-class artists across three venues extending from the heart of the city to the unique maritime setting of Vallisaari Island,” says Arja Miller, Director of HAM and Helsinki Biennial.
Vallisaari island. Photo: HAM / Helsinki Biennial.
Art as a source of shelter and compassion
Curated by Blanca de la Torre and Kati Kivinen, Helsinki Biennial 2025 explores the fragile relationship between humanity and the natural world. Moving beyond human-centric perspectives, the curators foreground non-human actors such as plants, animals, fungi, chemical elements and minerals. They believe this shift in perspective can foster new empathy for other living beings. A further curatorial touchpoint is the exploration of alternative ways of gathering and imparting knowledge about the world.
The theme of the third edition, Shelter, is inspired by Vallisaari’s island habitat. Surrounded by sea, this rich ecosystem has been preserved from human habitation for decades, providing a perfect shelter for diverse life forms to flourish. This undisturbed refuge also offers visitors a rare opportunity to imagine what unfolds when humans step back and non-human actors take prominence.
“Helsinki Biennial 2025 envisions art as a source of shelter and compassion. The artworks do not center on humans but instead highlight other life forms, exploring their significance to the wellbeing of our shared planet through a variety of perspectives. Also highlighted are Indigenous narratives, which convey knowledge that can foster a more sustainable way of life. Our vision is to forge new spaces of protection and to inspire positive environmental action,” describe the curators Blanca de la Torre and Kati Kivinen.
Helsinki Biennial commits to further improving accessibility and sustainability
Welcoming a broad public audience, Helsinki Biennial will offer improved accessibility by adding a new venue to its roster in 2025. The addition of Esplanade Park as a new biennial venue will enable wider audiences to enjoy world-class contemporary art free of charge in the heart of Helsinki.
The Helsinki Biennial maintains a commitment to caring for the planet through responsible exhibition-making, as well as socially sustainable and inclusive principles. Following its first two editions, the Helsinki Biennial 2025 is forging new spaces of protection through a systemic sustainability plan designed to bridge the gap between theory and practice. The biennial aligns with the City of Helsinki’s strategy to be carbon neutral by 2030.
Esplanade Park. Photo: Helsinki Partners / Lauri Rotko.
Helsinki Biennial: Shaping a creative legacy for generations
Finland, ranked the world’s happiest country for an impressive seven consecutive years, and its capital Helsinki exemplify a lifestyle rooted in creativity, artistic expression, and a deep connection to nature. Known for its dynamic arts scene, Helsinki offers an array of impressive museums, galleries, and public art, making creativity a visible and celebrated part of daily life. Helsinki Biennial embodies the city’s ambitious cultural vision, strengthening Helsinki’s art scene at both grassroots and institutional levels. A major initiative of the City of Helsinki, the Biennial is curated and produced by HAM Helsinki Art Museum.
Each edition of the Helsinki Biennial leaves a lasting legacy for the city, with artworks by leading international artists, such as Alicja Kwade, Laura Könönen, and Keiken, remaining on permanent display.
“Our goal is for each biennial edition to leave a lasting legacy—enriching the city’s cultural capital with public art commissions while committing to more sustainable practices. We envision a future where art continues to flourish throughout the city for generations to come,” says Arja Miller, Director of HAM and Helsinki Biennial.
The full biennial programme and list of artists, artworks, and sponsors will be announced in spring 2025.
Helsinki Biennial 2025
Shelter: Below and Beyond, Becoming and Belonging
June 8 - September 21, 2025
Vallisaari Island, Esplanade Park and HAM Helsinki Art Museum
Helsinkibiennial.fi
More information
Leena Karppinen
Senior Manager, PR & Communications
Helsinki Partners
leena.karppinen@helsinkipartners.com
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