Finnish National Gallery hosts Arcana Borealis exhibition

The Finnish National Gallery has launched “Arcana Borealis – Northern Women and Esotericism,” a major exhibition exploring the relationship between female artists from the Nordic region and Sápmi and alternative systems of knowledge. Spanning from the 19th century to the present, the show examines how spirituality, esotericism, and occultism have influenced female creativity.

The exhibition features over 200 works by 50 artists, including prominent figures such as Hilma af Klint, Tyra Kleen, and Tove Jansson. Co-curators Dr. Marja Lahelma of the Ateneum Art Museum and Dr. Nina Kokkinen of the University of Turku noted that the exhibition seeks to challenge art history narratives that have traditionally focused on male individual geniuses.

By highlighting women, the exhibition emphasizes themes of community, collective work, and the blurring lines between fine art and traditional handicraft. The collection includes a diverse range of media, such as textiles, ceramics, metal engravings, stained glass, and mosaics, reflecting matrilineal traditions of knowledge transmission.