The Magic North at Ateneum

The Magic North is a mesmerizing exhibition for the whole family at Ateneum Art Museum that opens on 18 June.

Activities for princesses, trolls and princes Imagine the trolls and fables of childhood. The mysterious dark places, heroic deeds in epic books like Kalevala or the Norwegian story of the white bear king Valemon.

Based on these stories and myths, Ateneum presents a stunning exhibition of Nordic sceneries, imaginary kingdoms and pictures of creatures from ancient stories, both enticing and a little bit scary.

Finnish and Norwegian artists such as Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Gerhard Munthe, Theodor Kittelsen and Hugo Simberg, all from the turn of the 20th century 1800-1900, wanted to take a step away from the high culture and art salons of the European metropolises. They took long trips to the countryside to study the life of country people and their ancient folklore, where animals and natural phenomena had human traits. Trolls and spirits took part in everyday work, but they were also revered for the inexplicable powers they had.

The artists gave wings to their imaginations and created a fantastic visual world, now open for visitors at Ateneum Art Museum.

Ateneum Art Museum, Kaivokatu 2, 00100 Helsinki, Finland.

www.ateneum.fi/en

Ateneum Art Museum is partner of Visit Helsinki.