PEEKABOO – South African Art in Helsinki

Until recently I have not been aware of art from South Africa but as it turns out, South Africa has developed into a major hub for contemporary art in the past 15 years.

Numerous South African artists are top names in the contemporary art scene such as William Kentridge, Jane Alexander, or Roger Ballen. Key themes that the artists share are the issues of the South African society: Apartheid, the role of religion, the constant turmoil of change, the finding of an identity. For the first time in Finland, the Helsinki Art Museum presents a review of contemporary art and looks at the history of South Africa in the exhibition “Peekaboo – Current South Africa.”

The show features 20 artists whose works consist of photos, paintings, sculptures and installations dealing with Apartheid, the changing role of religions, and the forming of a person’s identity amidst these changes. The works best described the state of transition that South Africa is undergoing. Some works explore personal experiences and others comment brutally or poetically on the surrounding reality, sometimes using humour or satire.

Erja Pusa, Chief Curator of Helsinki Art Museum.wants to make clear that “Peekaboo” is not a comprehensive review of post-Apartheid art, as he states: “It seeks to show what kind of content is important in South African art at this moment. For many of the artists, apartheid was part of their own life and its traces are still present today.” He also draws a comparison to surrealism that emerged after World War I and further explains: “The experience of history is subjective, and it is always seen against the backdrop of the present, one´s own life, environment and experiences, and so also in art.”

The exhibition has already opened in August and will run until January next year. Tickets cost 8/6€ and admission is free on Fridays. So why not take a quick weekend-getaway and visit this interesting exhibition while you can. When it comes to accommodation there is nothing better than renting apartments in Helsinki.

Tennis Palace Salomonkatu 15, 00100 Helsinki