‘King and Queen’ (gabbro, 1982) of Finnish artist Harry Kivijärvi, in the Gösta Serlachius museum
The Gösta Serlachius Museum, in Mantta, is heralded as the best art museum in Finland. Started as a private collection by the papermill owning industrialist Serlachius family over a century ago, the first museum opened in 1945, I suppose in the manor house that still forms the heart of the museum. In 2014 a new wing was added, starkly attractive modern architecture again, in wood, to provide more exhibition space for what is by now an impressive collection.
There are some 16th and 17th century paintings, mainly from Old Dutch masters, not the best ones, to be honest, and there is a bit of foreign impressionist art. But the real reason to come to the museum is the extensive collection of Finnish art, both modern and from what is called the Finnish Golden Age, late 19th to early 20th century. Especially because, at least to us, these artists are not well known, so we are looking at something we have never seen before. And we do not dislike it, on the contrary. Add to that the modern art, especially the sculptures inside the museum, and in the garden, dominated by works of Finnish artist Harry Kivijärvi (1931–2010), who used Finnish rock like diorite a gabbro.
Just a few impressions, to give you a taste.
Next: Savonlinna.
and ‘Eukleides’ (9 pieces of diabase, 1986-87), also Harry Kivijarvi
two of the sculptures of Harry Kivijarvi in front of the modern part of the museum building
‘Purje’ (gabbro, 1978), by Harry Kivijarvi
‘The Monastery Brothers’ Farewell’ (oil on canvas, 1922), by Tyko Sallinen
‘Helsinki Market in Winter’ (oil on canvas, 1931), by Marcus Collin (despite the name, Finnish)
‘The Beach’ (oil on hardboard, 1938), by Maurice Brianchon (not Finnish, but French)
remember the cathedral in Tampere? ‘Garland Bearer’ (oil on canvas, this time, 1905), by Hugo Simberg
yet I like this much more, also Hugo Simberg: ‘Skaters’ (oil on camvan, 1906)
‘Theme III’ (gabbro, 1980), sculpture inside the museum, also by Harry Kivijarvi
‘Mediterranean Fishermen’ (oil on canvas, 1949), by Gosta Diehl
‘Sunset’ (oil on canvas, 1956), also Gosta Diehl
‘The Skiere’ (oil on canvas, 1909), by Helene Scherfbeck
one of my favourites, German Anselm Kiefer’s wall-size ‘Vainamoinen Ilmarinen’, which means something like breathless air, I don’t know (mixed technique, 2018)
one detail, lower left corner
and another, upper right corner
