In 2024, 100 years will have passed since the birth of Lars-Gunnar “Nubben” Nordström, a pioneer and trailblazer in Finnish concrete art. The exhibition will focus on Nubben’s early work; works from the 1940s and 1950s; and the development of his full-on abstract expression. The exhibits also include photographs and archive materials that shed light on the reception of early concrete art in Finland, the zeitgeist in that era, and the great importance of an international outlook for Nordström and like-minded artists.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Lars-Gunnar Nordström (1924–2014), a pioneer of Finnish post-war abstract art. To mark the occasion of the centenary, Galerie Forsblom takes pride in presenting an exhibition spanning many decades of his career. Nordström’s paintings and sculptures celebrate the universal properties of form, color and line, fusing these elements in meticulously planned order and carefully orchestrated harmonies. His compositions are distinctive for their dynamism, precision, and perfect command of color. His visual lexicon has the immaculate equilibrium of a mathematical formula. The mathematical character of his compositions also finds expression in their inherent spatiality, which stands as a distinctive hallmark of Nordström’s highly recognizable Concretist painting style.

Nordström achieved acclaim in the Nordic region not only as an artist but also as an influential art world figure, teacher, and writer. Prior to becoming an artist, Nordström studied furniture design and dreamed of becoming an architect. Even after he became a painter and sculptor, he occasionally designed furniture and stage sets and did graphic designs for print.

The exhibition is a collaboration with the L-G Nordström Foundation.

Lars-Gunnar Nordström

27.3.–19.5.2023

Lars-Gunnar “Nubben” Nordström (1924–2014) was an uncompromising pioneer of Finnish abstract art. In honour of his centenary year, Kunsthalle Helsinki will exhibit the full wide range of the prolific artist’s lifework, from early figurative creations to the very last works. Nubben used various media in his art, from graphic printing to sculpture.The extensive exhibition curated by Juha-Heikki Tihinen reveals the uncompromising nature of Nubben’s artistic thinking – uniform in style, but rich in variation.

Lars-Gunnar “Nubben” Nordström wrote: “Jazz is living touching hearing seeing – and replicating” (Jazz är att leva känna höra se – och åter-ge.). The underlying idea behind the In the spirit of Nubben in five ways exhibition is the importance of multisensory experience and of variation in artistic work. The exhibition at Gallery Elverket presents five contemporary artists, all with their own style and voice, but they all dare to make unrestricted variations within the scope of their own artistic thinking, and to reflect critically. Their works go from multisensory to figurative to non-figurative and back, while creating new viewpoints on art and spaces for art.  The artists are: Oscar Hagen, Ville Laurinkoski, Jarkko Räsänen, Sasha Rotts and Man Yau.

Movements – modern city themes from the 20th century
100 years since the birth of Lars-Gunnar Nordström

Exhibition Artists’ House Erkkola 14.2.-26.5.2024

Modern life with its urban themes entered Finnish art from the 1920s onwards. The great metropolises of New York and Paris were models for urban life. The city was also the milieu of painter, graphic artist and sculptor Lars-Gunnar Nordström (2024-2014). He started with cubist-inspired figurative works, but ended up as an airbrush for Finnish concrete art. Jazz music was a hobby Nordström loved. In his own abstract compositions, one can see music-like rhythm and expression.

In addition to Lars-Gunnar Nordström’s art, the Erkkola exhibition includes works by Sigrid Schauman, Väinö Kunnaski, Eero Nelimarkka and Ragnar Ekelund, among others.

Open 14.2.-28.4. from Wed-Sun 12-17 and 1.5.-26.5. from Tue-Sun 10-17
Admission 8/6/0 €

Erkkola Artists’ House, Rantatie 25, Tuusula. www.erkkola.fi

Art moves us, or not, in ways that we ourselves do not always quite understand, let alone knowing how to put them into words. I feel, for now is Amos Rex’s first exhibition of works from its own collections on this scale, and takes us through the art into emotions. The more than a hundred artworks chosen for the exhibition carry us from isolation to empathy, from ecstasy to nostalgia.

The art collection managed by Föreningen Konstsamfundet comprises more than 6000 works. It is based on the body of some 400 artworks accumulated by the businessman, newspaper publisher and patron of the arts Amos Anderson (1878–1961). His home museum, Amos Andersons Hem – opened on Yrjönkatu Street, Helsinki, in spring 2023 – and Söderlångvik Museum on Kimito Island both house permanent displays of mostly older works from the collection.

The large, wide-ranging exhibition I feel, for now, will show works from the collection made by more than 70 artists from the 1960s up to the present. It includes the commissioned participatory work by the international artists collective Keiken. This is the first in Amos Rex’s series of artworks that make innovative use of technology while subjecting it to critical reflection.

The exhibition is curated by Katariina Timonen, Kai Kartio, Kaj Martin and Krista Mamia.

The I feel, for now collection exhibition is at Amos Rex 27 March – 8 September 2024. The artists will be announced in March 2024. Stay tuned!

Gallery 68 is the only gallery in Finland that focuses on constructivist art. We have previously held two exhibitions of Lars-Gunnar Nordström. One focused on his early cubist works and the other mainly on serigraphs from the 1950s. Nordström’s serigraphs from the 1960s, the period that can be considered his most artistically original and strongest during the season, will fill Galleria 68 on 11.4. – 26 May 2024.

p.044-9891000

www.facebook.com/galleria68

www.galleria68.com

In summer 2024, Salmela Art Centre will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Lars-Gunnar “Nubben” Nordström. Nordström was a pioneer of abstract art in Finland. His close links with the Nordic countries as well as the art scenes of Paris and New York made Nordström’s career worthy of international attention. In addition to visual art, jazz music was one of the greatest passions in his life. As a tribute to the artist’s life’s work, Salmela is exhibiting a diverse collection of Nordström’s graphic art.

And exhibition information:

Salmela Art Centre’s 35th Summer of Exhibitions

8.6.-11.8.2024

Every day from 11-18

8th and 8th of Sal Sal Salmala exhibition 8.8.8.8.8.

info@taidekeskussalmela.fi / 050 3388 114

info@taidekeskussalmela.fi / 050 3388 114

Save the date!

In 2024, 100 years have passed since the forerunner of abstract art, Lars-Gunnar “Nubben” Nordström, was born. In honor of the anniversary, Hanaholmen, the Swedish-Finnish Cultural Foundation and Pro Artibus Foundation are organizing a seminar where international experts will share their knowledge of Nubben and his art.

The language of the seminar is Swedish. Read more here (in Swedish)

The gallery is open daily at 10–20, free entry.

The centenary of the birth of Lars-Gunnar “Nubben” Nordström (1924–2014) is being celebrated early with a joint exhibition arranged by Hanaholmen – Swedish-Finnish Cultural Centre and Pro Artibus Foundation. The artists in the exhibition obviously include Nubben, but there are also works by two of his soulmates – Robin Lindqvistfrom Sweden and Jarkko Räsänen from Finland.

Nubben’s oeuvre is well known in the Nordic countries, where his constructivist art has been much admired since the 1950s. The output of both contemporary artists in the exhibition is based on the abstract art tradition and, like Nubben, they are also interested in music. The works in the exhibition open up a broad vista of the realm of ​​abstract art and of its ability to depict both dynamic movement, intense peace, and everything in between.

More information: Programme Coordinator Aino Kostiainen, aino.kostiainen(at)hanaholmen.fi