Finland Experiences

Helsinki Biennial 2025: art meets nature in the heart of the city

1 min read

Jun 12, 2025 9:49:16 AM

International contemporary art across three iconic locations in Helsinki

From June 8 to September 21, 2025, the Finnish capital will once again transform into a major stage for contemporary art. The third edition of the Helsinki Biennial brings together 37 artists and collectives from 30 different cultural backgrounds, with works showcased on Vallisaari Island, in Esplanade Park, and at the HAM Helsinki Art Museum. This year’s theme, “Shelter and Belonging,” invites visitors to explore the relationship between humans, nature, and the living world through art.

A creative dialogue across three venues

Helsinki Biennial 2025 features 57 works in total—about half of them premiering for the first time. Thirteen of these pieces have been specially commissioned for the event. The exhibition spans a variety of artistic forms, including sound sculptures, installations, ceramics, and textile works. For the first time, Esplanade Park joins Vallisaari (25 works) and HAM (15 works) as a central exhibition site, offering free access to outdoor art in the heart of the city.

HAM Director Arja Miller highlights the unique combination of nature, city life, and art: “The Biennial creates spaces where art can breathe and evolve—it’s a dialogue between the city, its people, and nature.”

Vallisaari: a symbol of refuge and transformation

Curators Blanca de la Torre and Kati Kivinen drew inspiration from Vallisaari’s unique identity. Once a military island, it now symbolizes biodiversity and natural retreat. Works such as Subterra by Tania Candiani and The Weep of Trees by Band of Weeds give voice to the invisible life of the island. Other installations offer non-human perspectives, like Nomeda & Gediminas Urbonas’ sound piece using drainage pipes, or Ernesto Neto’s SaariBird, which invites empathy through a bird’s-eye view.

Art for all

The Biennial is deliberately designed to be accessible to a broad audience. With Esplanade Park as a new location, art becomes part of daily life in Helsinki. Visitors can experience works by Katie Holten, Geraldine Javier, and Giuseppe Penone among them, a 12-meter granite snowman that never melts. HAM also offers free museum admission on five special days. School groups benefit as well: the City of Helsinki will cover ferry costs to Vallisaari for up to 10,000 pupils in grades 1–9.