Primeval Forest – In the footsteps of Pentti Linkola

The exhibition, curated by photographic artist Taneli Eskola, celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Finnish Natural Heritage Foundation. The exhibition highlights old forests and endangered habitats that were important living environments and destinations for eco-philosopher and fisherman Pentti Linkola (1932–2020).

The scenic focus of the exhibition is Old Häme, which Linkola defined as the central region of Runo-Suomi (Poetic Finland) – and also the birthplace of Akseli Gallen-Kallela's forest landscapes. Linkola's thinking about the region is interwoven with strong views on the world of smallholders, self-sufficient food production, soil, land, and water production. The exhibition texts, based on Anneli Jussila's book, deepen our understanding of Linkola's relationship with nature and highlight the environmental philosopher's concern about the disappearance of our vital natural heritage.

Taneli Eskola's landscape photographs, which are based on the tension between black and white and color, large and small, serve as the central visual elements of the exhibition. The sharp details are juxtaposed with expansive panoramas, illustrating different types of forests and their characteristic species, plants, and birds. The exhibition also highlights the relationship between forest types and the cultural landscape.

The theme is explored in depth through paintings by Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Eero Järnefelt, Fanny Churberg, and Pekka Halonen, which focus on the artists' personal feelings about nature and their thoughts on the sacredness of forests and trees. Gallen-Kallela, in particular, was already concerned in the 1920s about the loss of our relationship with nature and the impact of clear-cutting by logging companies on Finnish nature.

The Primeval Forest exhibition is a powerful statement on the importance and impact of nature conservation at a time when we are living in the midst of climate change and the loss of biodiversity. The exhibition has been produced in collaboration with the Finnish Natural Heritage Foundation.