Pluriverse – Non-European Art

Pluriverse presents non-European art from Antti Mykkänen's collection. When a trip is cancelled and all you have is an empty suitcase, an art collection can be born. Antti Mykkänen’s sailing trip in 2015 transformed into roaming in the galleries and art shops of South America. Since then, he has continued his meticulously planned art travel to more than 150 countries. The suitcase has been an important decisive factor of art collector Antti Mykkänen’s purchase decisions, as he had to transport the paintings home himself.

Mykkänen, born in Pielavesi, has always been subconsciously attracted to art. He says that he stopped on the streets at galleries and colourful paintings. The stops led to art shops and soon art shops became a part of travel. Mykkänen has focused on collecting non-European art.

The exhibition features works from more than 80 countries and includes more than 120 artists. Pluriverse states the question: who defines art, good art? Throughout history, European culture has tried to influence the cultures of the rest of the world. Western art and art museums are seen as the bastions of good art. The artists of the Pluriverse exhibition are from all over the world, from very different circumstances. The artworks have still gone through many selections: the artist, the collector, and finally the art museum. Someone’s gaze always chooses what it likes.