Scandinavian Culture Calendar: January 2024
By Hanna Heiskanen
Hannah Toticki exhibition. Photo: David Stjernholm
Where to go, what to see? It’s all happening here!
Hannah Toticki: Storage of the Gods (until 1 April)
January is the perfect time to familiarise yourself with new art. Hannah Toticki (b. 1984) is an upcoming artist from Denmark, who works with sculpture and is fascinated by questions on the meaning of life. Her most significant exhibition to date features three different zones: wings of guardian angels, archived dreams, and crowns.
Refshalevej 173A, Copenhagen
Ballet this spring. Romeo and Juliet, choreographed by John Cranko, sees the rivalling Montagues and Capulets fight for power, and love, in Verona.The dramatic score is by Sergei Prokofjev.
Helsinginkatu 58, Helsinki
Romeo and Juliet at the Finnish National Ballet. Photo: Roosa Oksaharju
Kaffe Fassett: The Power of Pattern (until 28 January)
If you have ever dabbled in handicrafts, you will recognise the name Kaffe Fassett (b. 1937). He is a prolific designer of textiles, from knitting to embroidery and quilting, focusing on pattern and colour. This exhibition showcases the breadth of his work and is a much-needed tonic for mid-winter blues. The Millesgården Museum, 20 minutes from downtown Stockholm, also includes a sculpture park.
Kaffe Fassett: Swirling Stripes, 1998. Photo: Kaffe Fassett
Danish Dance Theater: Køter (17 to 29 January in Copenhagen, then touring until 17 March)
The Danish Dance Theater is touring Denmark in early 2024 with the performance Køter, which means mongrel. The choreography is by Marina Mascarell, who is also the company’s new artistic director. The piece explores community, homogeneity, and the desire to be free. The music is by the Spanish cellist Yamila Ríos.
Venues around Denmark
Tampere Chamber Music (25 to 28 January)
The eight edition of the Tampere Chamber Music festival is taking over various locations of Finland’s second city in late January. This year’s theme is, translated into English, “in starry gardens”, which references several famed classical music composers who have passed away in recent years — most notably Kaija Saariaho (1952-2023). The concert on Friday 26 January is ideal for chilling after work as you can listen to it lying on your yoga mat.
Venues around Tampere
Tampere Chamber Music. Photo: Markku Uusitalo
Romeo and Juliet (20 January to 7 February)
The world’s best known love story arrives on stage at the Finnish National artistic director. The piece explores community, homogeneity, and the desire to be free. The music is by the Spanish cellist Yamila Ríos.
Venues around Denmark
Goya and Munch: Modern Prophecies (until 11 February)
Two artists, two countries, two different eras. Oslo’s Munch Museum presents a chance to see the works of Francisco de Goya (1746–1828) and Edvard Munch (1863-1944), the latter of which shared inspiration with the former. Munch’s life- time was also when the world began to fully appreciate the artistry of Goya. Both explored themes such as war and faith in their sometimes nightmarish paintings.
Edvard Munchs plass 1, Oslo
Goya and Munch in Oslo. Photo: Munchmuseet
Lotte Laserstein: A Divided Life (until 14 April)
Lotta Laserstein (1898–1993) was a German artist whose career began in post-World War I Berlin. As a Jew, the rise of Hitler brought her career to a halt, and she was forced to rebuild her life in Sweden. This exhibition, at the Modeerna Museet in Stockholm, is similarly split in two, showing works from both periods of her life. A once-forgotten artist who is beginning her rise to fame.
Skeppsholmen, Stockholm
Kaffe Fassett. Photo: Kaffe Fassett
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