HAM takes care of the art collection that belongs to all Helsinki residents, and works of art spread from the Tennis Palace to every corner of the city. HAM’s collection includes more than 10,000 works, of which around 2,500 are located in the city’s public spaces, indoors and outdoors. The most visible part of the collection is the public sculptures found in the streets, squares and parks of Helsinki.
“HAM is above all for its audience. It is important that the art collection belonging to all Helsinki residents is easily accessible both in exhibitions and around the city – and now also online. With Finna, the public can also see works that are not currently on display,” says HAM’s collection manager (temp.) Kati Nenonen.
Leonard and Katarina BäcksbackaThe collection of donated artworks is the heart of HAM. The collection donated in 1976 contains several gems of Finnish art history, e.g Tyko Sallinen‘s Pussy (1910). Other artists are e.g Ragnar Ekelund, Marcus Collin, Alvar Cawén, Jalmari Ruokokoskiand Ellen Thesleff.
One of the categories presents changes in Helsinki’s cityscape: during the past decade, 32 public works of art have been completed in the city. Public works of art have been realized, for example, in the new, unfinished districts of Kalasatama and Keski-Pasila. In addition, the walking and cycling route Baana as well as several parks and squares are decorated with art.
For the first time, visitors to Finna can view works located in semi-public spaces that are not open to the public, such as schools and kindergartens. Some of these works have been commissioned from artists who are permitted by the art policy. In addition to commissioned works, the works feature art selected from HAM’s existing collection.
Examples of works that can be viewed online are Elina Autiocustom work, Rainbow pen (2022), in Kumpupilvi’s daycare center and Antti Louhistorabbit sculpture, Listening (1968), beloved by the students of Snellman Elementary School. Kontula elementary school has art chosen by the students, e.g Jasmin Anoschkin‘s animal-themed ceramic sculptures and Tiina Laitanenand Pärkinen askedcolorful works.
Launched in 2013, Finna is a search service with millions of cultural and scientific materials in Finland. Finna includes more than 470 libraries, museums and archives, which have made their unique collections and materials available to everyone. The National Library maintains and develops the Finna service continuously in cooperation with customer organizations.
HAM’s Finna page can be found at hamkku.finna.fi. In addition to HAM’s Finna page, the works can be found more widely Finna.fi search service.
HT
Source: Helsinki Art Museum (HAM)
Source: The Nordic Page