The exhibition concept was inspired by the 1929 collection of essays by Olavi Paavolainen, an influential Finnish modernist writer and thinker, in which he discusses the essence of the modern human in the modern, changing world. His thinking offers astounding parallels to questions we are asking ourselves today.

In Search of the Present turns the gaze towards current issues that are shaping art and society at large and encourages viewers to participate in the public debate. With its themes, The New Me, Digital Mankind and Nature Kingdom, the exhibition explores the nature of human beings that inhabit a global digital world and their relationship to the environment, themselves and other human beings. The New Me theme described how we build ourselves and our identities in present age by using even quite extreme methods. The human being has become stronger as and operator and factor than ever before. Digital Mankind is a theme that discusses digitalisation and how it changes not only the individual but the entire humankind; we are on the verge of a major shift, which will change the way we think and act. Nature Kingdom talks about how desperately the humankind is striving to contain nature and the animal kingdom, alas with no success.

The works of the exhibition examine topics ranging widely from the modern sports hype to politics in the social media, from the exploitation of animals to the digital evolution, from plastic waste to the refugee questions and from virtual warfare to spiritual parallel realities. The exhibition series repeated every three to four years gives an opportunity for the museum and the artists featured in the exhibition to participate in the debate in society and reflecting on future visions through art.

Artworks by 22 international artists are displayed. The impressive collection of artworks curated by Pilvi Kalhama, Henna Paunu and Päivi Talasmaa consists of works produced by various media including sound art, spacial installations and commissioned works.

The first edition of the exhibition series explores the nature of human beings that inhabit a global digital world and their relationship to the environment, themselves and other human beings.

Artists:

David Altmejd / Berlinde de Bruyckere / Harun Farocki / Maria Friberg / Hannaleena Heiska / Camille Henrot / Berglind Jóna Hlynsdóttir / Sasha Huber / Artor Jesus Inkerö / Saija Kassinen / Yazan Khalili / Klara Kristalova / Elke Silvia Krystufek / Antti Laitinen / Jonathan Monk / Ben Okri / Erwin Olaf / Aza Shadenova / Elly Strik / Pascale Marthine Tayou / Anne Tompuri / Akram Zaatari