Ateneum's main exhibition in 2000 presents the production of Hugo Simberg (1873-1917), one of
the most important Finnish symbolists at the end of the 19th century. The exhibiton is based on an
extensive survey of Simberg's production, carried out by Ateneum.
Hugo Simberg was an artist, who was not interested in painting ordinary
pictures of everyday subjects. More important for him was to depict
something that would live on in the mind and keep a hold on the person,
opening doors to another reality. For Simberg, art was
the ability to transport oneself from the midst of a cold winter
to a lovely summer's morning and sense it all, feel how nature
awakens and your own harmony in tune with it. That is what I
require from a work of art. It must say something and say it so
loud that it carries us away.
Hugo Simberg's life took him from his birth place, Hamina, to Viborg, where
he went to school and from there he moved to Helsinki to study art. He spent
his summers and also other parts of the year on the family estate
Niemenlautta in Säkkijärvi. As was customary for the time, his studies took
him to London, Paris and Italy, but the most significant stage in his
development as an artist was when he studied under Akseli Gallen-Kallela in
the peaceful wilderness of Ruovesi.
Hugo Simberg's art was closely linked to the symbolism
of the period. The carefree poor devil and gentle death
entered into his works from beyond the realm of the
mundane like the King Hobgoblins and Fairy Tales. No
shiny oil paintings or decorative gilded frames:
Only love makes works of art genuine
and proper. If love is lacking when the
birth pains begin, the child will prove to be
an unhappy one.
Although Hugo Simberg died over 80 years ago, his
works have never before been displayed in such an
extensive exhibition. Alongside Death, the Devil, Frost,
Autumn and the Wounded Angel, are depictions of the
common folk, portraits, self-portraits and his extensive
output of graphic art. Landscapes are repeated
throughout his work: the moment of dusk as the moon
rises, windy open lakes and sailing boats on the
horizon.
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