Papu Hyypiä, Henna Hyvärinen, Hannele Kumpulainen, Mikki Noroila, Reeta Suvanto ja Lumi Tuomi
KEŠŠETÄH
March 7—29 2025
Open Wed—Fri 12—6 pm, Sat—Sun 12—5 pm
Opening on Thursday March 6 at 5—8 pm
In Karelian folklore, the forest spirit mettšähine is able to trap the living in the forest cover (mečänpeitto). Once covered by the forest, the familiar surroundings become foreign and no help can be found since the person has become invisible to others. Today, the mečänpeitto has been examined as a condition in which individuals give up their selfhood and surrender to the opposing world.
One may argue that outside forces have strived to misguide the Karelian people and culture into a state similar to the mečänpeitto. For centuries Karelians have been and still are targeted by xenophobia, assimilation, silencing, and denial. Situating between ever-changing political powers and borders, a background as refugees, displacement, and industrialisation have driven Karelians down unknown paths. Forced displacement shattered the peoples heritage, language and traditions.
For a Karelian, navigating within the outcome of these conditions can resemble getting lost in the forest: the path towards what has been lost is reconstructed by following little cues. When trapped by the mečänpeitto, one can be freed by turning their clothes inside out. The act of turning something inside out makes the invisible visible. It can be applied to re-thinking and re-learning as an act of rebellion, an objection to blending into the dominant culture.
Keššetäh (eng. endure) was born out of numerous experiences of longing, grief, and joy along the journey back home. Endurance refers to continuities, preserving the original state, and resilience to adverse conditions. The exhibition is rooted in collaboration: disembarking the path with fumbling steps, hand in hand.
Performance- illačču at Keššetäh-exhibition! 15t of March, from 6 to 8 pm
6—6.30 pm: Mirva Haltia, Karelian poems from Gruuga. English translation is available.
6.30—7 pm: Iva Matiyas, (Post) Akne: a comedy performance.
7—8 pm: Open Mic
Tulgua terveh!
Free entry
Illačču on Friday March 21 at 6—9 pm
Tulgua terveh, welcome, to illačču hosted by the organising team of the Keššetäh exhibition in Oksasenkatu 11 gallery 21st of March from 6 to 9pm!
The event is intended for Karelians, but you’re welcome to bring a few ally friends that you deem safe with you. There’s no specific programme: we just want to offer Karelians a comfortable, safe space to meet new people, old acquaintances, chat, ponder or just hang out.
We will serve tea and snacks. You are free to explore the library and the exhibition at your leisure. Bring along unfinished craft projects if you have any!
In Karelian villages, it used to be common to organise illačču, where villagers would gather to socialise. The village craftspeople would often work together on unfinished handicraft projects. Among Karelians who have settled in Finland and their descendants, the tradition lives on in its own forms, but in the capital region, where there are many people of Karelian background, there is a relatively large number of those who live isolated from the culture and the community. Karjalazet Nuoret Suomes-advecy organization started organising illačču events last year, with the aim of bringing Karelians living in the capital region together and thereby building a deeper sense of community. The Keššetäh exhibition team hopes to contribute to this effort. We also hope that those of you who don't yet know other Karelians will have the courage to join us!
The exhibition and events are organised by Erika Ryppieva, Iva Matiyas, Viktor Beloff ja Papu Hyypiä.
The vernissage drinks are provided by The Good Guys Kombucha.
(1) Enges, Pasi & Koski, Kaarina, 2021. Oudolla tavalla eksyksissä (92-94), Elore article archive https://doi.org/10.30666/elore.110956