INVITATION for media: Press event for exhibitions Karin Hellman and Arte Povera – A New Chapter on Tuesday, 8 April at 10 am in EMMA

We present Karin Hellman and Arte Povera – A New Chapter to the media on Tuesday, 8 April at 10 am. The press event takes place on site at EMMA, on the second floor of the museum. Media representatives are welcome to visit the exhibitions from 9.30 am onwards. The language of the event is Finnish. 

At the press conference, Curator Tuomas Laulainen will present Karin Hellman’s material-rich body of work. Arte Povera – A New Chapter will be discussed by two curators from the curatorial team, EMMA’s Chief Curator Ingrid Orman and Curator Nella Aarne. Also speaking at the press conference is EMMA’s Museum Director, Pilvi Kalhama. 

One of the international artists featured in Arte Povera – A New Chapter, Mille Kalsmose, will be visiting Finland. Please send additional inquiries, interview requests and registrations to EMMA’s Chief Marketing Communications Specialist Iris Suomi iris.suomi@emmamuseum.fi by Monday 7 April.

Karin Hellman 9 April 2025 – 1 February 2026 

EMMA presents the first major museum exhibition of visual artist Karin Hellman (1915–2004), a bold and visionary innovator of Finnish modernism. The exhibition, which bears her name, showcases 80 works that highlight Hellman’s inventive approach to art. Her work experiments with various materials and techniques, also drawing parallels with the international Arte Povera movement. The exhibition is based on Collection Hellman, which has been donated to EMMA.

Hellman’s art reflects a free-spirited approach to making art. She drew inspiration not only from myths across cultures but also from contemporary phenomena and visions of the future. Many of her works convey an anti-war stance. 

Arte Povera – A New Chapter 9 April 2025 – 1 February 2026 

Arte Povera – A New Chapter offers a fresh perspective on the Arte Povera movement, which emerged in Italy in the 1960s. The exhibition revisits the movement, traditionally viewed as male-dominated, through a feminist lens. 

The exhibition highlights the power of humble, everyday, and discarded materials through the works of over 20 artists. Instead of high-quality materials and polished aesthetics, Arte Povera (“poor art”) emphasises the creative processes and intentional unfinishedness.  

Arte Povera – A New Chapter presents original members of the movement and their contemporaries along with contemporary artists. The featured artists are: Liisi Beckmann, Louise Bourgeois, Isabella Ducrot, Laura Grisi, Karin Hellman, Eva Hesse, Kaarina Kaikkonen, Mille Kalsmose, Bronwyn Katz, Ketty La Rocca, Maria Lai, Ana Lupaș, Marisa Merz, Kazuko Miyamoto, Dala Nasser, Senga Nengudi, Anu Põder, Carol Rama, Nancy Spero, Tove Storch and Elina Vainio. 

As part of the Saastamoinen Foundation's collection exhibition Dialogues, Priss Niinikoski’s work Sonic mediations will open simultaneously, connecting with the themes of Arte Povera – A New Chapter.