FINNISH AND FRENCH ART FROM THE COLLECTIONS OF MAIRE GULLICHSEN

PRESS RELEASE

The Pori Art Museum presents the exhibition “Finnish and French Art” in summer 1984, featuring works from Maire Gullichsen’s collections. The exhibition builds on the showcase of modern Finnish art presented at the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen in spring 1983. This segment of the collection highlights an area of Finnish contemporary art deeply connected to international, particularly French, modernism.

The exhibition includes works by Finnish artists such as B. J. Carlstedt, Sam Vanni, Unto Pusa, L-G Nordström, Ernst Mether-Borgström, Ahti Lavonen, Tor Arne, Göran Augustson, Juhana Blomstedt, Carolus Enckell, Mauno Hartman, Jorma Hautala, Kari Huhtamo, Heikki Häiväoja, Outi Ikkala, Harry Kivijärvi, Matti Kujasalo, Seppo Kärkkäinen, Ukri Merikanto, Paul Osipow, Laila Pullinen, Pekka Ryynänen, and Kain Tapper. The selection primarily provides an overview of the development of Finnish constructivism since the 1950s.

The international connections in the collection are underscored by the inclusion of works by several French and other classical modern masters, such as Fernand Léger, Jean Arp, Juan Gris, Robert Jacobsen, Wassily Kandinsky, Henri Laurens, Henry Moore, Alexander Calder, Serge Poliakoff, and Victor Vasarely.

The exhibition highlights the significant role Maire Gullichsen has played as a collector and influencer in the development of Finnish modern art. Since the 1930s, through her various initiatives—including founding the Free Art School and Artek and organizing international exhibitions—she has been instrumental in introducing French art to Finland and fostering its appreciation.

Publication:
ISBN 951-9355-06-5 Suomalaista ja ranskalaista taidetta Maire Gullichsenin kokoelmista
Pori Art Museum 16.6.-12.8.1984
Editing: Porin taidemuseo
Translations: Peggy Gullichsen, Ritva Väänänen
Photos: Lasse Koivunen, Jalo Porkkala, Simo Rista, Douglas Sivén
22 colour and 17 black-and-white photos
Satakunnan Kirjateollisuus Oy, Pori 1984

Translated with ChatGPT