SPHERES OF SEEING – FREE ART SCHOOL 50 YEARS

PRESS RELEASE

From March 9 to April 13, the Pori Art Museum hosts the exhibition Spheres of Seeing celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Free Art School (Vapaa taidekoulu). This exhibition was previously displayed at the Helsinki Kunsthalle and the Mikkeli Art Museum, where its historical segment was showcased. At the Pori Art Museum, the exhibition features works by 30 artists spanning the years 1910 to 1985.

The Free Art School’s legacy is closely tied to the Pori Art Museum, as Professor Maire Gullichsen, one of the museum’s key figures, was also a founding member of the school. The Collection of Maire Gullichsen Art Foundation, donated by Gullichsen, prominently represents several artists associated with the school, including Sam Vanni, Unto Pusa, Sigrid Schauman, and younger artists such as Tor Arne, Carolus Enckell, and Tommi Mäkelä.

Additionally, the exhibition includes works by current school instructors, such as Kauko Hämäläinen, Reijo Viljanen, Ilmari Rautio, and Markku J. Rantala. Among the historical works, notable pieces include William Lönnberg’s compelling portrait series, Ole Kandelin’s 1940s compositions, and the delicate landscapes of Sigrid Schauman and Ester Helenius.

Beyond its teaching activities, the Free Art School has engaged in publishing initiatives aimed at introducing post-World War II painting. Its series, titled Perspectives on American Art, includes publications such as Josef Albers: Interaction of Color (1979), The Ability to See: Poems, Reviews, and Other Writings (1985), and Hans Hofmann: Essays (1983).

The catalog for the 50th-anniversary exhibition includes essays by Markku Valkonen and Päivi Lahtela. Lahtela provides an overview of the school’s history, while Valkonen contextualizes the history and evolution of art in Finland, shedding light on the contributions of the featured artists and their connections to the Free Art School.

Translated with ChatGPT