Invitation to Media Day on June 5th: Helsinki Biennial 2025

Helsinki Biennial 2025 is a major contemporary art event showcasing 37 artists or collectives from Finland and around the world. The upcoming biennial will spread across three distinct venues: the unique maritime setting of Vallisaari Island, Esplanade Park in the heart of Helsinki, and HAM Helsinki Art Museum’s Tennis Palace premises.

The theme of the biennial’s third edition, Shelter, takes inspiration from the habitat of Vallisaari Island, which has been preserved from human habitation for decades. The biennial reflects on the fragile relationship between humanity and the natural world. Moving beyond human-centric perspectives, the featured artworks foreground animals, plants, fungi, insects and minerals. The biennial seeks to forge new spaces of protection and inspire positive environmental action.

Helsinki Biennial 2025 Media Day 
Thursday, June 5, 2025

During the day dedicated to media representatives, you will have the opportunity to explore all the biennial's venues and artworks. You will meet the director of the Helsinki Biennial, Arja Miller, the curators for 2025 edition, Kati Kivinen and Blanca de la Torre, as well as numerous artists.

On Thursday, June 5, Olafur Eliasson's new public artwork will be unveiled in Kruunuvuorenranta district. We will arrange a ferry transport from Vallisaari island to the vernissage. If you are coming from the city centre, you can use, for example, the HSL ferry from Meritullintori Pier. The vernissage in Kruunuvuorenranta will start at 3PM. 

If you do not take the arranged transport from Vallisaari Island to Kruunuvuorenranta for the unveiling event, you may return independently by ferry to Market Square.

Helsinki Biennial 2025 Media Day June 5, 2025

• 8:30 AM: HAM Helsinki Art Museum doors open
  • Opportunity to explore Helsinki Biennial 2025 at Tennis Palace
  • Curators Blanca de la Torre and Kati Kivinen, as well as some of the participating artists, will be present
• 9:30 AM: Coffee and sandwiches served at Sokos Hotel Vaakuna (restaurant 10. Kerros)
• 10 AM: Media event at Sokos Hotel Vaakuna (restaurant 10. Kerros)

• • Arja Miller, Director of HAM and Helsinki Biennial
  • Paavo Arhinmäki, Deputy Mayor for Culture and Leisure, City of Helsinki
  • Curators Blanca de la Torre and Kati Kivinen
  • Some of the artists will also be present
  • The main language of the event is English

• 11 AM: Esplanade Park and Helsinki Biennial 2025
  • We will walk through Esplanade Park together with Arja Miller, Blanca de la Torre, Kati Kivinen, and some of the artists
• 12 PM: Ferry to Vallisaari from Keisarinluodonlaituri pier at the Market Square
• 12:30 PM: Vallisaari and Helsinki Biennial 2025
  • Arja Miller, Blanca de la Torre, and Kati Kivinen will be available for interviews
  • Many artists will be present at their artworks
  • 1 PM LOCUS / Tanja Thorjussen and Thale Blix Fastfold give an open rehearsal of their performance
• 2:20 PM: Ferry from Vallisaari to Kruunuvuorenranta
• 3 PM: Vernissage in Kruunuvuorenranta
  • Iceland’s Ambassador to Finland, Harald Aspelund, will unveil Olafur Eliasson’s new public artwork Long daylight pavilion
  • The artist will be present
• 4 PM: Vallisaari artworks close
• 7 PM: HAM Helsinki Art Museum doors close

Register for the Helsinki Biennial 2025 Media Day here.