Arctic Hysteria @ Taidehalli - go see it if you can

Fantastically dream-like, Taidehalli's 'Arctic Hysteria' exhibition in Helsinki can't fail to compel.  Touching on subjects such as space, futurism, design, nature and human emotion, the show's quirky works inspire, and its hard to choose your favourite piece.  There is something almost mystical about the show.  I almost wish it had been on in the dead of the winter, something to enjoy in between a steaming hot drink an overflowing glass of red wine, to provide escapism in the absence of daylight.
And what a great name, this Arctic Hysteria - how exotic in its Nordic fantasy!

Here are some pictures of works from the Taidehalli website:

Photography by Ilkka Halso

Art by Stiina Saaristo (done by pencil!)

Photography by Jari Silomäki

Composed of a melange of videos, sculptures, photography, sketches, and various installations, this exhibition spoke to me in a way in which modern art normally doesn't.  While I often find modern art interesting to look at, for me it often lacks substance and meaning.  I could see various artists really taking inspiration from their own lives, and moulding that into something that observers will find interesting.  The art provoked thoughts, opinions, and emotions, rather than just being there for the sake of being admired.

Highlights included Jari Silomäki's "Sääpäiväkirja" (see above) in which he had taken photos every day of the year, and also written about a current or personal event on them.  I also loved Salla Tykkä's "Lasso", a short film about a young girl watching through a large window as a guy practices lassoing inside his house.  I can't say I understood the meaning of this short film, but its emotional yet plain imagery and hauntingly beautiful soundtrack (Once Upon a Time in the West, from 1969) were touching.