Metsän suojassa – In the Shelter of the Forest – Multi-sensory exhibition and event series

In the Shelter of the Forest is a multi-sensory exhibition and event that invites you to reflect on the future of the forest through art, science and participation. In the Shelter of the Forest is a living and multi-sensory exhibition that combines visual art, sound, movement and participatory experiences. The exhibition invites you to reflect on the values and meanings of the forest, and to examine your own relationship with the forest from different perspectives. The project is the culmination of the two-year Metsäkissa2044 project funded by the Kone Foundation. Visual artist and biologist Susu Rytteri builds a monumental work entitled Utopia metsästä (‘Utopia of a Forest’) in the Kanneltalo gallery, in which a swarm of lightweight black-veined white butterflies fly through a background plastered with clay. The work will be accompanied by a series of 100 drawings entitled Elämän puu (‘The Tree of Life’) and moving images. Musician Katja Luhtala creates an audio piece for the exhibition entitled Metsän kieli (‘Language of the Forest‘), building a mystical and multidimensional forest atmosphere. The audience will have an opportunity to experience the atmosphere of the forest from the point of view of its creatures and organisms, and take part in workshops and discussions. On the Night of the Arts on 20 August, the audience will get to build a community artwork entitled Metsänpohja (‘Forest Floor’) from clay-plastered panels and have an opportunity to pet the Forest Cat. Throughout the exhibition, you can check out the artistic and journalistic content of the Metsäkissa2044 project at www.metsakissa.fi. Other aspects of the project will also be on display in the exhibition: Legioonateatteri’s forest theatre collective led by Virpi Koskela, Luhtala’s community-based sound art performances, Antti Rajala´s and Aki Saariaho´s utopian pedagogy and Jukka Ilmonen’s improvisational dialogue. Side events Saturday 15 August 13.00-15.00 Jukka Ilmonen presents the results of the Metsäkissa2044 project Thursday 20 August: Night of the Arts 17.00-17.30: Metsä M – a movement-based and poetic sound art performance (Katja Luhtala & collective) 17.30-20.00: Metsänpohja (‘Forest Floor’) – community artwork (Susu Rytteri) The audience can also pet the Forest Cat! Friday 21 August 17.00-18.00 Forest haiku workshop (Katja Luhtala) Saturday 22 August 13.00-15.00 Improvisation dialogue (Jukka Ilmonen) 15.00-15.30: Artist meeting: Susu Rytteri Thursday 27 August 17.00-18.30: Nature connection workshop (Virpi Koskela) Friday 28 August 16-17.30 Antti Rajala and Aki Saariaho: Utopian pedagogy 18.00-19.30: Forest theatre performance in the woods (location to be specified later) The director and the creative team will talk about the process Saturday 29 August: Finnish Nature Day 13.00-15.00: Roundtable discussion (Jaana Kanninen, featuring Anni Kytömäki and others) 15.0-15.30: Metsäsydän (‘Forest Heart’) – an ode to the local forest (Katja Luhtala & collective) The exhibition and events are part of the environmental programme of the City of Helsinki Cultural Services. The exhibition and events are free of charge.