Joasia Krysa to curate Helsinki Biennial

Head of Art and Design Joasia Krysa is to curate the Helsinki Biennial to take place June 12–September 18, 2023.

The Polish-born curator, who is interested in the juncture of contemporary art and technology, and was cocurator of the Liverpool Biennial 2016, had already been an advisor to the inaugural event in the Finnish capital in 2021.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Joasia to the Helsinki Biennial team,” said director Maija Tanninen-Mattila, who is also director of the Helsinki Art Museum.

“Joasia’s collaborative model of curating and interest in technology and digital art respond to the pertinent issues of our time. The Biennial is part of Helsinki’s ambitious cultural vision; we look forward to building on our commitment to local co-creating whilst expanding the perspective of Helsinki Biennial globally by creating connections between local and international communities.”

The inaugural Helsinki Biennial, originally planned for 2020, was pushed back owing to the global Covid-19 crisis and opened last autumn. Titled “The Same Sea” and offering free admission, it was curated by Helsinki Art Museum’s Pirkko Siitari and Taru Tappola and was staged on the former military island of Vallisaari. The 2023 edition will return to the island and will occupy the wider city as well. No theme has been announced.

“I am excited to join the Helsinki Biennial team to develop the second edition at what feels like an unprecedented point in time,” said Krysa in a statement.

“The biennial’s specific location on and off the shore of the Gulf of Finland provides a unique context for activating practices and discussions in response to contemporary issues. Collaborating with others—collectives, research organizations and other entities—I look forward to learning from shared experiences, contributing to developments in the city, and working toward qualitatively different futures.”