Please note: Some of the events below are in-person. Please make sure to follow the country’s current COVID-19 guidelines (find them here), as they may change between the time this calendar is published and when an event takes place. Always maintain social distance, wash your hands, and wear a mask when possible.
Helsinki’s COVID-19 restrictions currently run until Sunday 28th February with a possible extension. Even ditigal events may be cancelled with short notice, so make sure to check the event link before attending anything.
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Ready for a month full of Helsinki events? After something of an eventless winter so far, February comes to us right when we need it, bringing both longer days and a wider range of happenings outside our homes. While larger institutions still keep their doors closed, many smaller galleries and cultural centers welcome visitors.
Most of the physical exhibitions require either pre-booking, have a limited visitors policy, or ask their visitors to only participate with masks, so make sure to check the restrictions/requirements before entering public spaces.
Here are the best events in Helsinki for this month, from exhibitions to virtual activities:
Monday 1st to Sunday 7th February
Virve Lukka: Bird Shapes at Kalleria
Inspired by the poet Sappho, visual artist Virve Lukka created a poetic collection of acrylic paintings, hoping to get closer to out-of-reach themes, such as birds and skies, but also more abstract subjects, like escapism, feelings of inadequacy, and resilience/spirit. The exhibition is free of charge.
Monday 1st to Saturday 13th February
Apila Pepita’s Online Exhibition At Galleria Kuvitus
Illustrator, comic artist, and tattoo artist Apila Pepita’s online exhibitions Hellä Tattoo (directly translated ”tender tattoo”) is a colorful treat. Pepita is an activist manifesting her ideas through artistic expressions and often deals with themes such as mental health and gender questions.
Pluckhouse Theatre: Lust (online)
Like most theatres, Pluckhouse had to cancel their shows due to Covid. Instead of not showing their piece, they modified the act and took it online. With a new episode every day until the 21st of February (and already running since mid-January), you can follow this 42 episode web series, described as a “weird and hilariously wicked “erotic” comedy”.
Tuesday 2nd to Sunday 7th February
Taidegrafiikan tapa olla – materiality, collaboration and agency at Exhibition Laboratory, Taideyliopiston Kuvataideakatemia
“Taidegrafiikan tapa olla – materiality, collaboration, and agency” (translated: The way of being for art graphics – materiality, collaboration, and agency”) aims to investigate the essence of printmaking. ”When one approaches art from the perspective of new materialism, the questions examined make a gradual transition from one’s personal practice to more general, ethical, and ecological themes, and then back again to the materiality of the medium,” the event description notes. The exhibition manifests its questions through visible examples in different topical expressions. Free entry. Due to COVID restrictions, the space only allows five visitors at a time.
Tuesday 2nd February
Tero Puha, Varjojen uni – Sleep of Shadows at Korjaamo
In this analog, black and white exhibition, photographer Tero Puha studies portraits of masculinity through sensitive and searching expressions. “Sleep of Shadows” consists of photographs from 1994 up to this day, opening up Puha’s archives and showing many never before seen shots. Free of charge.
Yoga at Luckan
Join a 60-minute vinyasa flow yoga-session, where you get to learn and practice yoga basics while being guided through fundamental breath and meditation techniques. Open for all levels. With limited spots, it’s important to register in advance by emailing [email protected].
Wednesday 3rd February
In Residency: This Grace
This Grace is an online event by the Icelandic working group Saga S.dóttir, Halla Thordardottir, and Adalheidur Halldorsdottir, where a live stream of a choreographic demo will mark the end of their residency period. This Grace studies ”pleasure states and a certain expressive intimacy with oneself and space” – something that’s out of reach for many of us in this day and age. The event is free of charge and open for all online.
Audition Day For Ladies Salsa Show Team
Do you love salsa on more than just your nachos? Still Dancing Studio invites Salsa dancers to join their show team! Auditions will be held ad Salmisaaren liikuntakeskus, and auditioning costs 15 euros.
Saturday 6th February
K1 Coco & Marilyn – Free guided tour in English at K1
Hollywood photographer Douglas Kirkland’s portraits on Marilyn Monroe and Coco Chanel filled the Finnish Museum of Photography last fall, and quickly became one of the cultural highlights of the season. Now you can visit the exhibition on a free guided tour to relive the magic of the sixties. Due to Covid, the K1 Gallery Space only allows a maximum of 10 people per tour.
Sunday 7th February
Connections – No One Is An Island – Test screenings
“Connections – No one is an island” is Suvi Nieminen’s interactive film installation, portraying the different experiences of one pandemic through 100 people around the world. The screenings allow test audience to collectively participate in the next stages of the process, making each screening a reflection of its audience. While the screening does not show a final product, it allows contributing to the creative decisions of where the documentary is going next. The test screenings are free of charge. Each screening is limited to ninr seats, so remember to book in advance.
Thursday 11th February
Movement Workshop with Maria Luege
Actors, ahoy! With the guidance of Maria Luege’s workshop, acting artists can reconnect with their physical expressions, learning about your characters’ interior worlds through their movements. The workshop works with methods such as contrabalance and improv. Places are limited and will be filled on first-come, first-serve basis. Participation costs 35 euros and the booking is binding.
Friday 12th to Sunday 14th February
Porvoo Lights 2021
An hour’s drive outside Helsinki you’ll find the lovely little town of Porvoo. The old part of town makes an idyllic milieu with wooden villas, small boutiques, and the beautiful Porvoo river, any day of the year, but during this weekend the Porvoo Light Festival highlights the most popular sights and hidden gems. The light show is spread around the city, outside and free of charge.
Tuesday 16th February
How to make a Business Plan training (online)
Are you dreaming of starting your own business? How to Make a Business Plan training helps you with essential questions like how to reach your target audience, how to create a sales plan, and how to do a profitability calculation – among other things! The tickets are limited, so make sure to sign up on time.
Friday 19th February – Sunday 21st February
Hello!Galaxy
Are you into Lolita fashion (a genre not related to the Nabakov novel, by the way)? Join the Hellocon expedition to connect with fellow local Lolita enthusiasts, to take part in seminars and workshops, and to just enjoy the sparkly aesthetics of an online galaxy (not so far away).
Monday 22nd February
Working in Finland – Jobseekers’ bootcamp (online)
Do you need support trying to find a job in Finland? The Jobseekers’ bootcamp will prep you, boost you, and support you in your job hunt in the Finnish work market. Meeting online every Monday morning, you can hop on and off as you choose. The bootcamp is open for all and free of charge.
Ongoing in February
UMO Helsinki Ensemble: Tribute to Art Blakely
While live music is pretty much out of the question at the moment, this virtual concert, played by the UMO Helsinki Ensemble, is available for you to enjoy until the 26th of February. Pour a glass of red, close your eyes, and let Blakely’s jazz tunes take over.
Riviera
While the movie theatre Riviera doesn’t have any public viewings announced at the moment, they are renting out their theater for small groups and gatherings for private Jukebox-nights. Your group of 1-10 people can choose a movie from their catalogue (here you’ll find everything from the nineties rom-com classic 10 Things I Hate About You, to the beloved Call Me By Your Name, to family favorite My Neighbour Totoro), lean back and enjoy.
Virtual Tour on the Icebreaker Steamer Tarmo
The Maritime Museum of Finland offers a lovely, virtual sightseeing inside one of the big, Finnish icebreakers. Thanks to beautifully executed techniques you can stroll around both on and under deck, clicking your way around what looks like a movie set.
Bogna Luiza Wisniewska: Fragile Hug at Sic Gallery
Bogna Luiza Wiśniewska’s solo exhibition ”Fragile Hug” has been described as heartwarming, and looks very much like the title; like a physical manifestation of connection, with tender but bold forms. Due to the pandemic, SIC will limit the number of visitors to five people at a time, offer face masks, and provide hand sanitizer at the gallery. Runs until 21st February.
Shubhangi Singh: Bringing a Poem to a Gunfight at MAA-tila
Shubhangi Singh, a visual artist and filmmaker, presents a series of textile-oriented objects to examine body autonomy and the female bodies’ presence in public spaces. Due to the current restrictions, “MAA-tila” will be open with limited capacity, only allowing four visitors at a time, and asks participants to wear face mask inside the exhibition space. From the 3rd to the 21st of February.
Mickael Vis: To Dance With The Devil at Kosminen
Photographer and director Mickael Vis is exhibiting his latest work “To Dance With The Devil” at Kosminen gallery. After impressive collaborations with names like Iittala and Helsinki Design Week, not to mention stunning visual publications like Et après la mer il y a ma chair, his work is guaranteed to feed the soul. Free entry. From the 4th to the 28th of the month.
The Clinical Impossibility of Foretelling the Future, Part 2: “The End of the World (As We Know It)” at Myymälä2
Married couple and artist duo Merja Puustinen and Andy Best have created a series of pieces revolving around current political and social struggles. With sculptures, photography, and light installations they’ve created a space that stimulates the viewers to “negotiate and encounter their own perspectives and emotions”. Free of charge. From the 4th through the 28th of February.
Ville Andersson: Desert Music at Helsinki Contemporary
Ville Andersson, has, among other things, been chosen the Young Artist of the Year in 2015, and is now solo exhibiting at Helsinki Contemporary with his latest project, ”Desert Music”. His digitally manipulated photographs portrait the silence of a landscape devoid of human beings, using the desert as a symbol for the timeless and placeless. Free entry.
“Fantasi och känsla” at Luckan
Artist Cecilia Rosenlew creates dialogues between color and form, often with a theme as her motif. In her exhibition ”Fantasi och känlsa” (translated ”Fantasy and feeling”) she studies the colors and shapes of nature, giving them completely new forms in her oil and acrylic paintings. Free entry. On until the 26th of February.
Jussi TwoSeven: All Is One at Espoon Kulttuurikeskus
Jussi TwoSeven has his roots in graffiti art and continues to use his previous methods in his latest exhibition “All Is One.” Presenting both urban city motives and a series of wild animal portraits, Jussi TwoSeven mainly uses spray paint to create pieces that are both photorealistic and grand gestured paintings. Free entry. Due to COVID-19, Espoon Kulttuurikeskus requires all visitors over 15 years to wear face masks. On until the 27th of February.
Alexandra Björkholm Exhibition at Café Talo
Café Talo, situated in the heart of Hakaniemi, hosts Helsinki based artist Alexandra Björkholm’s solo art exhibition all month starting 2nd of February and running until the 28th. Free of charge.
Mirja Ilkka: Solo Exhibition at Rio11
Helsinki based artist Mirja Ilkka will be painting in the shared studio/gallery space Rio11 on opening hours the last weeks of February. Starting from a blank canvas, Ilkka will be working on her piece for as long as it’s time to be removed. Everyone entering the gallery space during this time will therefore be a participant in the making. Visitors may also contribute to the process by painting on a separate canvas. Starts on 11th February and runs until 4th March.
Susanna Seriola-Vesa, Mystical Radiance at Galleria 4-Kuus
Visual artist Susanna Seirola-Vesa portrays her signature motifs – human and animal facial expressions – in a story-like manner. Her latest series, “Mystical Radiance,” is an exhibition with a mythical twist. From 6th February until 5th March.
If you’re a business or organisation that would like us to add your event to next month’s calendar, please contact us at hello [@] scandinaviastandard [dot] com. Thank you!
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