Bonus: I Went to Helsinki Biennale So You Don't Have To (But You Should)

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A bonus solo episode about my last minute art trip to Helsinki: what I saw at Helsinki Biennale on Vallisaari island, three must-visit museums (Kiasma, Amos Rex, HAM), and why sometimes the best art experiences require a little effort to reach.

Last August, I hopped a ferry from Estonia to catch the closing days of Helsinki Biennale. In a day and a half, I discovered why island biennales create magic, why Nordic countries do art infrastructure better and what Australia can learn from Finland's approach to supporting artists and making contemporary art accessible to everyone.

This isn't a comprehensive review, it’s my honest impressions, favorite discoveries and a few rants.

What I cover in this episode:

• Why the ferry journey to Vallisaari island matters (hello, Cockatoo Island nostalgia)

• The challenge of installing art outdoors: scale, setting and competing with historic buildings

• Standout works: Sara Bjärland's bronze "inflatable" sculptures, Tania Candiani's immersive bunker installation, Ana Teresa Barboza's woven bark forest

• Three essential Helsinki museums: Kiasma (timeless favorite), Amos Rex (new obsession), HAM (Biennale HQ)

• Gushing about Helsinki Central Library (Oodi): free recording studios, 3D printing, instrument hire – everything Sydney libraries lack…

• Free museum days and artist benefits: how my Australian NAVA card got me free entry in Finland (but not in Sydney... explain that)

00:00 Why I Went To Helsinki Biennale

01:20 Getting to Vallisaari

03:31 Island Setting and Challenges

07:06 Scent Art Surprise

08:46 Standout Works

13:14 Lesson About Rushing

15:28 Rainy Day Museum Crawl: Kiasma

16:32 Amos Rex and HAM

21:44 Finland Artist Perks

23:37 Wrap Up and Listener Poll

Resources:

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Write an email: https://installationartpodcast.com/contact

Also mentioned in this episode:

Helsinki Biennale: https://helsinkibiennaali.fi/en/ | https://www.instagram.com/helsinkibiennial/

Vallisaari: https://vallisaari.fi/en_US | https://www.instagram.com/vallisaari.fi

Biennale of Sydney: https://www.biennaleofsydney.art/ | https://www.instagram.com/biennalesydney/ | @biennaleofsydney

Cockatoo Island: https://www.cockatooisland.gov.au/en/ | https://www.instagram.com/harbourtrust/ | @HarbourTrust2088

Olafur Eliasson: https://olafureliasson.net/ | https://www.instagram.com/studioolafureliasson/

Raimo Saarinen: https://www.raimosaarinen.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/raimosaarinen/

Sara Bjarland: https://sarabjarland.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/sbjarland/

Tania Candiani: https://taniacandiani.com/en/ | https://www.instagram.com/tcandiani/

Ana Teresa Barboza: https://www.anateresabarboza.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/anateresa.barbozagubo/

Nabbteeri: https://www.nabbteeri.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/maria_birkhuhn/ | https://www.instagram.com/nabbage/

Kiasma: https://kiasma.fi/en/ | https://www.instagram.com/kiasmamuseum

Amos Rex: https://amosrex.fi/en/ | https://www.instagram.com/amoskonst/

Anna Estarriola: https://www.annaestarriola.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/annaestarriola/

HAM: https://www.hamhelsinki.fi/en/ | https://www.instagram.com/hamhelsinki/

Oodi: https://oodihelsinki.fi/en/ | https://www.instagram.com/oodihelsinki/

NAVA: https://visualarts.net.au/ | https://www.instagram.com/nava_visualarts/