At Kiasma’s giant Tom of Finland exhibition, you can see some hot dudes, and traditional Finnishness is also on view

TOM OF FINLAND Untitled, 1973

Tom of Finland, one of the most famous Finnish artists in the world, is the Contemporary Art Museum Kiasma’s major exhibition this year.

The more than two hundred works in Kiasma’s Bold Journey exhibition have one thing in common: artist Tom of Finland’s (1920-1991) interest in the male body, and especially the idealized body of the alpha male.

“Tom of Finland’s fantasy world once offered a different perception to people belonging to sexual minorities. He did not present effeminate men or men who could be called weak. He wanted to create objects – objects of desire – that you can relate to and that you can talk about with pride,” one of the curators of the exhibition and director of Kiasma, Leevi Haapala summa.

Especially in the early days, the intended purpose of Tom of Finland’s art was to excite the viewer, and the artist was also personally enthusiastic about making such pictures. His passions were the fetish culture of small circles and leather.

READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE BY JUSSI MANKKINEN

Published: 22nd May 2023

Categorised in: Events, News