Seminar on Brutalism
Sibelius Museum 22nd Sept 2023 1 PM – 4 PM
Piispankatu 17, Turku, Finland
In connection with the exhibition the Bryggman institute organises a seminar on Brutalism on 22nd September. The main speaker, Guja Dögg presents the architecture of Icelandic Högna Sigurðardóttir in English. The rest of the programme is Finnish, but the pictures are in any language.
Brutalist architecture has risen in discussion due to new research and public interest. At the same time several buildings have, also in Finland, been torn down, while others have been protected and restored.
Guja Dögg Hauksdóttir is Architect Cand. Arch. from Aarhus School of Architecture in Denmark. She works with architecture, philosophy and ideology in various forms and wide scope, ranging from independent research, education development, curating, writing and broadcasting as well as designing. Guja Dögg has been the head of the architecture department at Reykjavík Art Museum as well as working free-lance for the Nordic House in Reykjavík and other cultural institutions in Iceland and Nordic countries. Currently, she is working on a biography on architect Högna Sigurðardóttir's (1929-2017) work in a bigger context of poetic modernism and brutalism
Other speakers will discuss Finnish brutalist architecture and its preservation. In connection of the seminar, the Exhibition Dearly detested concrete is open.
1 PM
Guja Dögg
The concrete poetry of architect Högna Sigurðardóttir
1:45 PM
Mikko Laaksonen
Brutalism in Finland (in Finnish, english text in slides)
2:15 – 2:45 PM coffee
2:45 PM
Timo Jeskanen
Restoration of Roihuvuori school (in Finnish)
3:15 PM
Kaisa Karvinen & Karita Rytivaara
Stripped frame (in Finnish)
3:45 PM
Discussion: how to preserve brutalism
After the seminar, in the Fredagar på Sibbe series musician Halla Steinunn plays 7PM to 8PM. We hope as many participants of the seminar as possible can participate in the concert!
https://sibeliusmuseum.fi/en/events/fredagar-pa-sibbe-halla-steinunn-stefansdottir/
The seminar is free of charge, register by e-mail to info@bryggman.fi by 20 Sept.
Exhibition Dearly detested concrete - Brutalism in Finland 17th September 2023 – 7th January 2024.
The upcoming exhibition in the Sibelius Museum presents Finnish concrete architecture. The exhibition Dearly detested concrete – Brutalism in Finland is opened on 17th September. Among others miniatures and photos of brutalist buildings are presented. The exhibition is based on the book project Brutalism in Finland by the non-fiction author, representative of Bryggman institute Mikko Laaksonen.
The architectural style marked with exposed concrete, become common in Finland during 1960´s. The style evokes emotions both for and against. The Dearly detested concrete – Brutalism in Finland presents many so called concrete brutalist buildings around Finland. Miniature models and photographs present the contrast between the interiors and exteriors. The Sibelius Museum functions as a perfect frame for the exhibition, as the buiding, planned by Woldemar Baeckman presents concrete brutalism in an internationally exemplary way.
The exhibition Dearly detested concrete – Brutalism in Finland is open in the Sibelius Museum 17th September 2023–7th January2024.
Book project Brutalism in Finland:
https://www.facebook.com/BrutalismFinland
Sibelius Museum
Piispankatu 17, Turku
Open Wed-Sun 11 AM – 4 PM
Guidances on the university area
The representative of Bryggman institute, non-fiction author Mikko Laaksonen guides to the modernist and brutalist architecture of Åbo Akademi and University of Turku. The guidances are by requests in Finnish, Swedish and Englist. Start at Sibelius Museum, Piispankatu 17.
Sunday 1st October 1:30 – 3:30 PM
Free, part of the Åbo Akademi foundation day programme.
Saturday 14th October 1 – 3 PM
Guidance 10 euro basic price, 5 euros under 18, unemployed, student, pensioner
Concerts
The theme of concrete is presented also in the music pieces in the concerts in the museum during tha autumn. In the “Aika nousi merestä” – “Time rose from the sea” concert in 20th September compositions by Carita Holmström and Pauliina Isomäki are played. On Sunday 1st October the band Pyramidit plays free jazz classics of the 1960´s and 1970´s and own compositions. On 4th October Kari Ikonen and Matti Innanen play concrete brutalist bagatells. In the concrete brutalist evening on 7th December avant-gardist compositions by Peter Ablinger, Laurence Crane and James Tenney comment the style. Concerts and events in Sibelius Museum: https://sibeliusmuseum.fi/evenemang/
The hyperbolic paraboloid forms linked to concrete brutalism can also be admired in the Iannis Xenakis music performed by the Turku philharmonic orchestra in its concert on 30th November.
Info: https://tfo.fi/
Picture: Brekkugerði 19, Reykjavik. Högna Sigurðardóttir 1961-1964. Picture Arnór Kári Egilsson
