Imagine Abstract

Imagine Abstract is an invitation to play and explore.

The exhibition from the collections of the Oulu Art Museum encourages the public to approach abstract art and its elements with a curious imagination and explore the dimensions of non-figurative art in a functional and interactive way.

The exhibition tickles the senses and encourages playful interpretation. Play is a way of learning and exploring the environment in a light-hearted, creative way, bringing shapes, emotions and ideas to life. The magic of play is also at the heart of making and experiencing art. Visitors can experiment and explore their creativity in a variety of ways at the exhibition’s activity points.

Another key theme of the exhibition is imagination – the ability to shift from one perspective to another. It can open up new ways of understanding the world and make unexpected connections between things. Imagination is the ability to question existing reality. If things can be imagined differently, they can also be done differently.

The shapes, colours and compositions of abstract art often follow rhythms, patterns, elements and systems recognisable in nature and life, expressed both as clear, repetitive patterns and as explorations of emotion and material. This holistic approach to art and science can be interpreted as part of a wider post-humanist trend that seeks to understand the relationships, diversity and interconnections between humans, nature and all living things.

The exhibition features works by more than 50 artists from 1965 to 2025 and focuses mainly, but not exclusively, on artists from the North. The artist Anu Halmesmaa has created a commissioned work that invites the public to play, acquired for the collection by the Maija-Liisa Niemi Fund. Oulu Art School, Oulu University of Applied Sciences and the University of Oulu have also participated in the process. The exhibition is curated by Katariina Kemppainen and Laura Lampinen.

Artists of the exhibition:

Timo Aalto, Göran Augustson, Juhana Blomstedt, Henri Hagman, Juhani Hakalahti, Anu Halmesmaa, Jorma Hautala, Hanna Holma, Kari Huhtamo, Vuokko Isaksson, Matti Jaukkuri, Terttu Jurvakainen, Hannu Kaakko, Jouni Kesti, Ulla Kiiskinen, Olavi Korolainen, Matti Kujasalo, Jorma Kuula, Marra Lampi, Elina Lind, Robert Lucander, Lasse Marttinen, Ukri Merikanto, Ernst Mether-Borgström, Markku Metsämäki, Matti Mikkola, Jukka Mäkelä, Marika Mäkelä, Martti Mäki, Pertti Mäkinen, Jussi Niva, Lars-Gunnar Nordström, Maija Närhinen, Paul Osipov, Reijo Paavilainen, Aino-Kaarina Pajari, Olli Pohjola, Johanna Pöykkö, Ulla Rantanen, Liisa Rautiainen, Sisko Riihiaho, Sinikka Räike, Kaarina Sepponen, Airi Snellman-Hänninen, Ossi Somma, Riitta Tjörneryd, Pentti Tulla, Teuvo Tuomivaara, Veikko Törmänen, Antti Ukkonen, Sam Vanni, Viktor Vasarely, Annu Vertanen, Pekka Vesterinen, Heikki W. Virolainen.