[아츠앤컬쳐] 헬싱키 비엔날레의 세 번째 전시, "쉼터: 아래 그리고 그 너머, 존재와 소속"이 6월 8일, 도시 곳곳에서 57점의 작품을 대중에 공개하며 시작된다. 이 비엔날레는 헬싱키의 해안 지역을 배경으로 발리사리 섬의 독특한 자연경관과 헬싱키 본토의 HAM 미술관, 그리고 헬싱키의 푸른 심장부인 에스플러네이드 공원에서 만나볼 수 있다.

블랑카 데 라 토레와 카티 키비넨이 큐레이터를 맡은 이번 비엔날레의 핵심 주제인 "쉼터"는 인간 중심적인 관점에서 벗어나 식물, 동물, 균류, 광물과 같은 비인간적 존재를 작품의 주인공으로 부각하도록 작가들을 초대한다. 이 비엔날레는 인간과 자연의 관계를 재해석하여 기후 낙관주의와 긍정적인 환경 행동을 고취한다.

새로운 커미션 작품과 장소 특정적 작품을 선보이는 이번 전시의 절반 가까이는 이전에 공개되지 않았던 작품들로, 헬싱키에서 처음 선보인다. 2025년 헬싱키 비엔날레에는 라틴 아메리카, 아프리카, 유럽, 아시아 출신의 핀란드 및 해외 작가 37명이 참여하며, 특히 북유럽 지역 작가들에 중점을 두고 원주민 대표들의 세계관을 반영하는 것을 목표로 한다.

The third edition of Helsinki Biennial, Shelter: Below and beyond, becoming and belonging, opens to the public on 8 June with 57 artworks unveiled across the city. Set against the backdrop of Helsinki's maritime position, the biennial unfolds across the unique natural landscape of Vallisaari Island, as well as the mainland’s HAM Helsinki Art Museum and for the first time, Esplanade Park - the green heart of Helsinki.

Curated by Blanca de la Torre and Kati Kivinen, the biennial’s central theme of Shelter encourages a shift away from human-centric perspectives and instead invites artists to foreground non-human actors – such as plants, animals, fungi and minerals — as protagonists in their works. By considering alternative perspectives, the biennial reimagines humanity's relationship with nature to inspire climate optimism and positive environmental action.

Featuring new commissions and site-specific works, just under half of the exhibits are previously unseen and make their debut in Helsinki. The 2025 biennial features 37 Finnish and international artists, from Latin America, Africa, Europe and Asia, placing particular emphasis on artists from the wider Nordic region as well as aiming to incorporate the worldviews of Indigenous representatives.

Blanca de la Torre and Kati Kivinen, curators of the Helsinki Biennial 2025, say: ‘The Helsinki Biennial is a shared space of co-inhabiting and of care. As curators, we sought to step away from human-centered thinking, instead engaging with more-than-human memories, intelligences, and sensibilities. In this spirit, even Vallisaari Island, one of our main sites, is a protagonist in this edition; with the biennial aiming to reflect its rhythms and honor the non-human protagonists that have long inhabited it. This biennial is the result of a collective effort, and we are deeply grateful to the many hands, minds, and hearts that have brought it to life.’

Daniel Sazonov, the Mayor of Helsinki, comments: ‘We are delighted to welcome visitors to the third Helsinki Biennial – a celebration of art that truly embodies Helsinki’s ongoing focus on creativity, artistic exploration and connection to nature as an integral part of a good life. This year marks an exciting moment in our cultural journey, as the biennial expands into Esplanade Park, the green heart of central Helsinki, inviting both residents and visitors to encounter art in the rhythm of everyday life, as they wander and wonder through our city’.

Arja Miller, director of HAM Helsinki Art Museum, says: ‘The Helsinki Biennial is defined by a profound connection between nature, art and the maritime city, setting it apart within the global biennial circuit. With Vallisaari’s untamed landscapes and the central vibrancy of Esplanade Park as two of our three stages, we invite contemporary art to unfold and transform in the open air. This is not just an art event - it’s a dialogue between art, the city and its inhabitants, and nature. Each biennial edition leaves behind a lasting legacy in the form of public artworks, enriching Helsinki’s cultural landscape and offering inspiring and memorable art experiences to both residents and visitors long after the biennial ends.’

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