Chance and Surprise

Polaroids at the Finnish Museum of Photography

As part of Helsinki Festival 2012 the Finnish Museum of Photography presents the first ever survey exhibition of Polaroid pictures. They were selected from the WestLicht Collection in Vienna which contains over 4400 works by 800 artists. The Helsinki station of the travelling exhibition presents famous names such as Andy Warhol, Ansel Adams, and Robert Rauschenberg, and has a focus on Finnish photographers: Lauri Eriksson, Olli Lyytikäinen, Kari Riipinen, Laura Nissinen, Antti Nylén, and Viivi Nieminen.

The works of the 150 photographers in the exhibition combine playful snaps with mood shots from the 70s
and 80s, and the thrill of colour. In its day, the intense colour world of the Polaroid tempted people to
investigate colours, lights and shadows. The ‘instant’ aspect of these photographs opens them up to chance
and surprise: the camera was used to look into the sun, or pictures were deliberately taken on old film, and
over or underexposed. The pictures are abuzz with rock and glamour; nudity, the pimples and wrinkles of
un-Photoshopped skin; self-portraits, still lifes; urban living, partying and landscape romanticism.

Suomen Valokuvataiteen Museo
Tallberginkatu 1 G
00180 Helsinki
Finland

18 August to 2 December, 2012
open Tuesday to Sunday, 11 am to 6 pm,
Wednesday to 8 pm

14.08.2012