Unbreak My Heart
1.5.–24.5.2026
Opening night: 30.4.2026 at 6pm-9pm , welcome!
The opening night entails a performance by Ida Nisonen
One way or another, art is always political. Not wanting to take a stand to the current state of the world is a political choice in itself. The uncertainty of the current moment challenges us to ask, where we can find the actions and hope to construct a better future, when the world we know seems to be in disarray.
Unbreak My Heart is an exhibition and a collection of workshops, which combine creators from differing backgrounds from contemporary art scenes and different marginalizations to bring together artists, activists and societal enactors. They showcase the biases of structures of power and show their own perspectives and alternatives moving at the edge between art and activism. Art act as a tool to bring experiences, ideas and injustices into light. It brings different, singular creators and groups activities and their methods together.
At the core of Unbreak My Heart is and exhibition, the artists of which include Ida Nisonen, Kukka Maria Rosenlund, Laura Kopio, Valo Vairio, Vilja Joensuu, Hanna Arvela, Jenna Jauhiainen, Tapani Pirog and Elina Helkala. Their artworks combine personal experiences and broader societal issues. The multitude of materials, techniques and themes widen the singular themes of the exhibition into a broader observation of forms of artistic expression and subject matters. The artworks show as aesthetic experiences as well as political addressing and speeches.
Unbreak My Heart is accompanied with workshops, conversations and events where the subjects of political agency and and arts ability to create impact are being discussed. Communal activities take place in the exhibition space and shape it through communal artworks. The workshops include the production of memes, zines, utopias and look into ways to strengthen ones political voice, among other things. Co-operation with different organizations and movements provide participants a space to try out and develop new ways to influence and self-express through art.
Different enactors and organizations are represented by: Radikaalit ristipistot Helsinki (Radical Cross-stitching Helsinki,) Pand, Alex Andra Rekola, Katja Myllyviita, Extinction rebellion Finland, Olga Palo, Johanna Virtanen, Iida Puro, Heidi Hänninen ja Kontula Art School as well as Elfim Trotsak.
Unbreak My Heart project group: Iida Puro, Henrikka Pöllänen and Laura Kopio.
Event bulletins
Sunday, 3.5.
at 12–13.30 Utopia I -workshop: Images of the future via words and collage
at 14–17 Radical cross-stitching Helsinki: Craftivism-workshop, no previous skills required
Wednesday 6.5.
at 14–16 A Meme -workshop: topical memes with made with phone or as a collage
at 17–19 a panel discussion: Artists political self-censorship - Why does an artist remain silent? (in Finnish,) Alex Andra Rekola & Katja Myllyviita
Friday 8.5.
at 14–16 Zine-workshop (text & collage)
at 16–18 Extinction rebellion Finland: Artivism-lecture and discussion - Art as a tool for activism (in Finnish)
Sunday 10.5.
at 14–16 Mothers Day memeworkshop (with Olga Palo)
at 16.30–18.30 A door to dreams - a workshop of meeting and encountering art for mothers (and children)
Saturday 16.5.
at 13–15 Artists political voice -rhetoric workshop (Johanna Virtanen & Iida Puro)
at 15–17 Meme workshop: topical memes with your phone or as a collage.
Wednesday 20.5.
at 15–16.30 Utopia II -workshop: Images of the future with words and collage
at 17–19 Kontula Art School & Heidi Hänninen: Communal art and city activism
Friday 22.5.
at 17.30–19 Jenna Jauhiainen: A lecture performance - Visibility, media and witnessing during crisis (in Finnish)
Saturday 23.5. – End party
at 12-13.30 Utopia III-workshop: Images of the future with wordws and collage
at 14-17 Elfim Trotsak - Documentary zine: art as a form of political expression
at 17 PAND- Artists for peace: A poetic show about humanity and our connection to nature and each other.