Me: Self-Portraits Through Time

27.5. - 6.8.2017

How do you see yourself? How would you like others to see you? The self-portraits of artists offer glimpses into the innermost side of their makers. The works show artists who are noble and proud, but also plenty of humour and self-irony.

Kunsthalle Helsinki’s summertime exhibition shows more than 160 self-portraits from the end of the 19th century until present day. Among these, there are realistic replicas, eyes peeking from the corner of a mirror, and grotesque role play.

Like the selfies of our time, artist self-portraits have always served the purpose of self-optimisation: many self-portraits look back at us as an embodiment of the mythical artist, as a rare breed above the everyday. Others show an artist with less idealism, with even a gritty intimacy.

The exhibition includes paintings, photography, video, and sculpture works from more than a hundred Finnish artists.

The artists are Petri Ala-Maunus; Anette Arlander; Hugo Backmansson; Stig Baumgartner; Gunnar Berndtson; Elina Brotherus; Yngve Bäck; Kari Cavén; Eva Cederström; Marcus Collin; Helge Dahlman; Elin Danielson-Gambogi; Gösta Diehl; Rabbe Enckell; Torger Enckell; Severin Falkman; Stig Fredriksson; Alexandra Frosterus-Såltin; Akseli Gallen-Kallela; Radoslaw Gryta; Gunvor Grönvik; Axel Haartman; Eeva-Mari Haikala; Hannaleena Heiska; Outi Heiskanen; Jenni Hiltunen; Reijo Hukkanen; Viljo Hurme; Einar Ilmoni; Alpo Jaakola; Oskari Jauhiainen; Ismo Kajander; Väinö Kamppuri; Aimo Kanerva; Aino Kannisto; Pentti Kaskipuro; Inka Kivalo; Unto Koistinen; Jukka Korkeila; Anne Koskinen; Vilho Lampi; Henrika Lax; Johanna Lecklin; Pirkko Lepistö; Anton Lindfors; Juhani Linnovaara; Sami Lukkarinen; Edvin Lydén; Olli Lyytikäinen; William Lönnberg; Heikki Marila; Olavi Martikainen; Veikko Marttinen; Åke Mattas; Elina Merenmies; Arno Rafael Minkkinen; Eemu Myntti; Jukka Mäkelä; Otto Mäkilä; Rauha Mäkilä; Esko Männikkö; Eero Nelimarkka; Felix Nylund; Antti Ojala; Yrjö Ollila; Marjatta Palasto;Nelli Palomäki; Unto Pusa; Tapani Raittila; Vesa-Pekka Rannikko, Martti Ranttila; Aurora Reinhard; Heli Rekula; Kaapo Rissala; Jalmari Ruokokoski; Eino Ruutsalo; Janne Räisänen; Yrjö Saarinen; Stiina Saaristo; Tyko Sallinen; Santeri Salokivi; Sampsa Sarparanta; Sigrid Schauman; Sulho Sipilä; Venny Soldan-Brofeldt; Louis Sparre; Minna Suoniemi; Iiu Susiraja; Ellen Thesleff; Tommi Toija; Paavo Tolonen; Heikki Tuomela; Santeri Tuori; Pauliina Turakka Purhonen; Marianna Uutinen; Roi Vaara; Sam Vanni; Carl Wargh; Viggo Wallensköld; Ilmari Vuori; Einari Wehmas, Henry Wuorila-Stenberg.

Program related to the exhibition

1.6: Workshop: Self-portrait caricatures
Starting 3.6: Dancing at the Kunsthalle
15.6: Workshop: Dreams
7-8.6: Workshop: selfies
11.6: Workshop: Nonstop selfies

Pauliina Turakka Purhonen, Omakuva, 2010. Amos Andersonin taidemuseo. Kuva: Kari Siltala / AAM

Paavo Tolonen, Omakuva eli maalaus kehitysalueelta, 1970. Aineen Kuvataidesäätiö, Aineen taidemuseo, Tornio.

Outi Heiskanen, Omakuva, 1976. Ruskealiitu ja akvarelli 42 x 29,5 cm. Turun taidemuseo. Kuva: Kari Lehtinen