Alternately new.

Step into a changing and inspiring world.

Current temporary exhibitions

The Bear and the Star - Industry, Prosperity and Success
18.11.2011 - 18.3.2012
The Museum of Kymenlaakso

The exhibition of the Karhula Industrial Park Association comprises three parts. The video work The Bear and the Star consists of stories told by persons who work and used to work at the Karhula Industrial Park and of material filmed in the production facilities and milieus of the Industrial Park. Photographs from Karhula presents photographs from the Industrial Park over a period of more than 100 years, and Old Films from Karhula three non-stop documentary films with no sound, depicting Karhula in the 1950s. There are only two actual items related to industries: a crane hook and a piece of steel. All other exhibition material consists of photographs, films and sounds.

Future temporary exhibitions

The Everyday Paper
13.4.2012 - 12.8.2012
The Museum of Kymenlaakso

What would the world look like today, if paper was never invented? The touring exhibition produced by the Craft Museum of Finland takes you on an interesting voyage of discovery into the world of indispensable paper.

Paper is one of the necessities of human life, just like the wheel and electricity. The invention of paper allowed people to transfer information from one generation to the next, regardless of time and space. If paper was never invented, the modern welfare society with its legislation, medical science and arts would probably not exist.

The exhibition is a multisensory experience. There are touchable material samples of papyrus and rag paper, tools and raw materials. You can watch a video demonstrating how recycled paper is made and the various ways it can be used. On display are also the world’s first stamp, pictures of historical paper discoveries, a depression-era paper bag and modern paper art.

Expert consultants for the exhibition were Professor Esko Häkli and Cultural Counselor Eero Niinikoski.

Spoil of Riches - Stories of the Vrouw Maria and the St. Michel
25.4.-2.12.2012
The Maritime Museum of Finland

The Vrouw Maria and the St. Michel: two 18th century wrecks known as treasure ships, two unique glimpses into the Age of Enlightenment.

The exhibition Spoil of Riches - Stories of the Vrouw Maria and the St. Michel starts in Amsterdam. Both ships with their valuable cargo were en route to St. Petersburg, but both sank off the coast of Finland; the St. Michel in 1747 and the Vrouw Maria in 1771. The Vrouw Maria was carrying paintings acquired by Catherine the Great, while the cargo of the St. Michel comprised pocket watches, golden snuff boxes, a horse carriage intended for the Empress Elizabeth, and other luxury items.

The wrecks with their cargos reflect trading in the Baltic Sea area in the 18th century. In addition to luxury items, the cargos also contained commodities such as coffee, fish, tobacco, flower bulbs, cheese, dyes, and fabrics. What does this merchandise tell us? Why did it originate from Amsterdam and why was it being shipped to St. Petersburg? And what did a typical freighter of those days look like?

The exhibition portrays trading in the Baltic Sea area, the golden age of Holland, and the salons of the Age of Enlightenment through the items recovered from the wrecks, paintings borrowed from Dutch museums, and innovative installations. The underwater world also comes to life: A 3D simulation describing the Vrouw Maria in its submerged scenery renders the distant wreck accessible by all!

The exhibition also sheds light on the events after the finding of the wrecks and endeavours to explain why these wrecks arouse such great feelings.

Paper Doll
14.9.2012 - 20.1.2013
The Museum of Kymenlaakso