OCTOBER GROUP, 1933-1951

PRESS RELEASE

On January 21, the Pori Art Museum opens the exhibition Lokakuun Ryhmä (The October Group) 1933–1951. The group included Sven Grönvall, Sakari Tohka, Aimo Kanerva, Oskari Jauhiainen, Mikko Laasio, and Helge Dahlman, with guest contributions from Otto Mäkilä and Tyko Sallinen.

A historical overview of the group written by M.A. Leena Peltola, who compiled the exhibition, is featured in the exhibition catalog. Her essay narrates the evolution of Finland’s art scene in the 1930s, describing its rigid structures, the story of “rejected” artists from a particular exhibition, the birth of a spiritual opposition movement, and the formation and activities of the young opposition group. It also traces their exhibitions, their expansion, and the fulfillment of their artistic goals, both individually and beyond their own circle. As a result, the concept of “October-style art” became a widely recognized phenomenon in Finnish art.

At the time, critics accused these artists of neglecting the study of nature. In response, Ernst Krohn, a central figure in the early October Group, wrote:
“Artists are accused of neglecting the study of nature. But nature also exists within every artist…”
At the core of the October Group was a creative emphasis on the artist’s inner vision over external observation.

Despite their influence, the October Group held relatively few joint exhibitions. Their first exhibition, in spring 1934, featured Ernst Krohn (who had passed away shortly before), Sven Grönvall, and Sakari Tohka. After the interruption caused by the war, the group presented watercolors at Artek in 1945, by which time Aimo Kanerva had joined. A few years later, Oskari Jauhiainen, Mikko Laasio, and Helge Dahlman were invited to join (though Dahlman soon left the group to pursue a new path). In 1948, the artists exhibited at the Turku Art Museum, joined by Otto Mäkilä from Turku. In 1951, the group held its final exhibition, where Tyko Sallinen participated as their guest. Both Mäkilä and Sallinen are also included in this historical exhibition with works representing their contributions to the group’s legacy.

In the 1930s, the October Group were isolated modernists. By the 1950s, they were recognized as young masters of Finnish art. By 1987, they are considered classics of Finnish visual art.

Translated with ChatGPT