Fragile Surface

Fragile Surface

18.11.2026-30.5.2027

Artsi’s democracy-themed exhibition explores questions of power, decision-making, and participation. Democracy is not a given – it requires continuous engagement, negotiation, and vigilance regarding how power is used, who uses it, and on whose behalf.

The exhibition examines the structures of power, the polyphony of civil society, open dialogue, and people’s possibilities to participate – all fundamental pillars of democracy. It highlights how democratic decision-making does not occur only in elections, but also in everyday actions, in the activity of communities, and in citizens’ opportunities to be heard.

How can we nurture and strengthen democracy together so that it remains vibrant in the future as well?

The exhibition features perspectives from artists in the Vantaa Art Museum’s collection as well as invited artists.

As part of the exhibition, Artsi showcases a performance Exchange by artist Eero Tiittula. The performance is built around encounters between the artist and participants. During these encounters, held at Vantaa City Hall, Tiittula creates quick portraits of the participants, which replace the traditional portraits of city directors displayed in the building.

In this way, the artwork makes visible a fundamental principle of democracy: the face of power is not found solely in decision-makers, but also in the people affected by those decisions. The portraits created during the encounters are gradually transferred from City Hall to the Artsi exhibition, where the empty spaces reserved for them are filled over the course of the exhibition.

The artists of the exhibition:
Tellervo Kalleinen & Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen, Matti Kolehmainen, Martti Könönen, Erkki Kulovesi, Heidi Linsén, Pekka Mattila, Marjukka Paunila, Nanna Susi, Eero Tiittula, Katja Tukiainen, Enni-Kukka Tuomala, Risto Vilhunen

The list of exhibiting artists will be updated.

The exhibition is supported by the Finnish Heritage Agency with a grant for artists’ exhibition fees.