Helsinki Taidehalli: Finland’s elegant and transformative exhibition space

By Molly McPharlin | Photos: Helsinki Taidehalli

A rich haven of leading museums and gallery spaces, Finland’s capital Helsinki is home to Taidehalli, a multipurpose exhibition space that has held some of the most exciting art shows in the country. From Tom of Finland to Niki de Saint Phalle and David Hockney, Helsinki Taidehalli showcases groundbreaking Finnish and international art in an iconic early 20th century building that is a must-see for anyone visiting the city.

Opened in 1928, Taidehalli was the answer to a debate that spanned almost 30 years in Finland at the beginning of the 20th century – where and how should contemporary art be displayed in the country’s capital? After various proposals for buildings and locations, Helsinki’s artists proposed the construction of a gallery in the central district of Töölö, now a protected heritage site with special architectural and cultural significance. Built by Jarl Eklund and Hilding Ekelund and a prime example 1920s Nordic neo-classicism, the gallery’s mission was to become a centre for both Finnish and international art, design and architecture.

“This is not a museum,” says Nina Toppila, Taidehalli’s director. “Taidehalli is owned by a private foundation that is backed by various art and artist organisations. Unlike traditional museums and galleries, we don’t have a collection; it’s a space for changing exhibitions – something in between a museum and an art gallery. There’s nothing quite like it in the art scene in Finland.”

The staircase in the iconic building that houses Helsinki Taidehalli.

Groundbreaking exhibitions

Taidehalli organises between five to seven exhibitions per year. These consist mainly of modern art, design, contemporary art and architecture, from both public and private collections. “We mostly exhibit Finnish art and design, but strive to present international art as well,” says Toppila. “We cooperate with different art foundations, museums and associations when producing our exhibitions. Our motto is, ‘cheeky, joyful and warm.’ This is how we approach both our audience and our exhibitions; we strive to present innovative, thoughtful art and artists to raise discussion and encourage new ways of thinking through art.”

Other ceramic works can also be found in the gallery shop.

Approaching its 100th anniversary, Taidehalli is planning a series of celebrations and special exhibitions. In the run-up to 2028, Taidehalli is preparing its gallery space for In Light of…, the work of Yemeni-Bosnian-US multimedia artist Alia Ali. It will be her first solo exhibition in the Nordic region, open from August until 1 November this year.

The exhibition takes place in collaboration with the Helsinki Festival, an annual city-wide celebration of art, theatre, music and cinema, which is held from 18 August to 5 September. Toppila says; “The immersive experience will celebrate collectivity, connectivity and the movement of ideas across cultures and geographies. And in November, we open an extensive retrospective of Finnish sculptor and pop artist Jiri Geller’s work, which is also going to be exciting and thought-provoking.”

The multimedia artist Alia Ali. Photo: Päivi Niemi

Helsinki Taidehalli arranges guided tours, school visits, workshops and discussions to coincide with its exhibitions. “We do tours in three languages and organise concerts and performances, and every year we take part in local events such as Night of the Arts and Helsinki Day,” says Toppila. “It’s a good idea to check out our website and find out what’s going on.”

A selection from the new body of work by Alia Ali featuring costumes inspired by Yemeni ceremonial dress in her exhibition In Light of…

A creative shop and exquisite Finnish cuisine

Taidehalli is also home to an excellent gallery shop, stocked with merchandise related to exhibitions, art books and art works made by contemporary artists and craftspeople. “We sell jewellery and other products from local Finnish artisans,” Toppila says. “The museum shop focuses on locally-made, unusual high-quality products. Customers can also be assured that whatever they’re buying has been sustainably produced.”

Helsinki Taidehalli: Finland’s elegant and transformative exhibition space

Restaurant Finnjävel is also on site, with two establishments: Salonki, a more formal restaurant with traditional Finnish fare taking on contemporary, sophisticated forms, and Sali, a relaxed café with a cosy atmosphere and an excellent salmon soup, a Finnish favourite at lunchtime.

Helsinki is in many ways a hidden gem when it comes to art, and visitors from the Nordics and around the world regularly rave about the culture and creativity in the city. Everything is at a walkable distance and there are numerous museums and galleries to visit, including Helsinki Art Museum HAM, Amos Rex, Kiasma and, of course, Taidehalli; all within close proximity to each other. Toppila concludes: “Helsinki is a wonderful city with lots of art, culture and design to explore!”