The Fiskars Village Art & Design Biennale will take over Fiskars Village again from 16 June to 1 September. The interdisciplinary Main Exhibitions remind us of the importance of hospitality and community. In addition, the biennial will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the artist cooperative Onoma, whose theme is fragility and sensitivity, as well as the 375-year anniversary of the biennale’s Main Partner Fiskars.

The Main Exhibition of Luovi Productions, the founder of the Fiskars Village Art & Design Biennale, transforms the Old Granary along the Fiskars River into an atmospheric summer villa. Different rooms will be built on the top floor, which together form one large living space with different functions. The rooms are being designed together with carefully selected design brands. The plans include at least a hallway, a dining room, a kitchen, a living room, a bedroom, a children’s room and a studio space.

The moment of surprise comes when unannounced guests arrive at the summer villa. Each room will host an artist, whose work will add layers and depth to the spatial experience.

At the core is the idea of hospitality and generosity. According to curator Sini Rinne-Kanto, the theme especially resonates right now, as the current times are coloured by conflicts and political tensions. “We live in challenging times in many ways. There can never be too much hospitality and opportunities to live together. I hope that the biennale could offer people a moment to stop and think about these communal themes and their importance,” says Rinne-Kanto.

Fiskars Village Art & Design Biennale is produced in cooperation with artist cooperative Onoma. Fragile, another of the Biennial’s Main Exhibitions, celebrates Onoma’s 30th anniversary and will be curated by Marja Sakari.

Fiskars Village’s attractive factors are its historical setting and strong sense of community

The biennale, organized for the third time at Fiskars village, has already established its place in the summer’s cultural calendar. This year, there is a special reason to celebrate, when the Fiskars Group, founded as an iron foundry on the banks of the Fiskars River, reaches its 375th anniversary.

“We at Fiskars are honored to have the opportunity to celebrate our milestone year here in Fiskars Village, the birthplace of the company and the brand. Ever since the very beginning, Fiskars has been present in the everyday life of the village, and the extraordinary milieu with its layers of history reminds us of our responsibility towards both past and especially future generations. The expression of Hospitality and Community in the Biennale’s Programme ties seamlessly together with the themes of Fiskars’ anniversary year,” says Niklas Koiso-Kanttila, VP Marketing, Fiskars. 

Applications for the extensive parallel programme are open from 1 February to 19 May. The interdisciplinary search is aimed at creatives in the Raasepori region, each of whom is welcome to organize their own event as part of the biennale.

The local community also plays a major role in the main exhibitions.

Fiskars Village Art & Design Biennale has become a meeting place for summer cottage residents, local and foreign guests. The contents and themes act as conversation starters. Above all, however, the biennale offers a community experience in a unique setting.

“The task of the Fiskars Village Art & Design Biennale is to present design and art in side-by-side interaction with each other. The area between them may be shaky, but is always inspiring,” sums up Kari Korkman, the founder of the biennale.

Additional information, interview requests

Anni Korkman
Programme Director, Luovi Productions
anni.korkman@luovi.com
+358 40 846 5576

Press images can be found here https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/15KI9U5Geg-YiAU8RYWCqooM8RsQj

Press accreditation form can be found here. https://hdw.gruppo.fi/online-applications/index.php/715567/lang-en

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Luovi Productions is a creative company that provides curation, production and communication services. Luovi’s best known production is Helsinki Design Week, the largest design festival in the Nordic countries.

Onoma Cooperative of Artists, Designers and Artisans in Fiskars, is one of the largest and oldest artist cooperatives in Finland. Founded in Fiskars in Raasepori in 1996, Onoma has grown and diversified continuously. The cooperative manages a year-round shop and gallery spaces at Fiskars ironworks, produces curated summer exhibitions and runs an international artist residency.

Biennale’s main partner is Fiskars, celebrating its 375th anniversary this year. The company was founded by the Fiskars river in 1649, and is still very present in the everyday life of the thriving creative community. Today, Fiskars Village is known for its rich cultural history and unique nature, intertwined with modern, high-quality design expertise and a wide range of services for sustainably conscious visitors.