Kiasma

Kiasma opened in 1998 to a design by the American architect Steven Holl, and the building was contentious before it was finished and has been comfortable in the city ever since: a curved form in which one wing bends through another, clad in zinc and glass, with a long interior ramp winding up through galleries lit as far as possible by daylight brought in through the roof. The collection is contemporary, largely Finnish and Nordic, and the programme leans toward changing exhibitions, performance and commissions rather than a fixed hang. The ground floor, café and shop are open without a ticket, and the terrace faces the parliament across the square.

History

The national collection of contemporary art began in 1990 as the Museum of Contemporary Art, housed at first in the Ateneum. An architectural competition for its own building was held in 1992, open to architects from the Nordic and Baltic countries with four invited from elsewhere, and in 1993 Steven Holl's entry "Chiasma" was chosen from 516 proposals; the design proved controversial, not least for standing so close to the equestrian statue of Mannerheim. Building began in 1996 and Kiasma opened in May 1998; it shut for repairs from September 2014 to March 2015, and in 2016 it drew over 310,000 visitors (Wikipedia, Kiasma).

What's there

• Holl's curving interior ramp - the spine winding up through the galleries.
• Daylight brought in from the roof - the lighting the building was designed around.
• Contemporary Finnish and Nordic art - the core of the collection.
• Performance and commissioned work - the programme beyond the walls.

When to go

Year round. Two hours. Closed Mondays. Free entry on certain evenings; check the current arrangement. Exhibitions change substantially through the year.

Good to know

There is no permanent display to rely on, so what is showing varies enormously and not every exhibition will appeal. The building divides opinion. Some installations are closed for changeover. It is small compared with major European contemporary museums.

Nearby

The Ateneum is across the square; Amos Rex lies west.

Key facts