HELSINKI, FINLAND.- Kunsthalle Helsinki presents Artists 2005 - 110th Annual Exhibition of Finnish Artists in Kunsthalle, through February 6, 2005. The new year in the Kunsthalle is launched with the traditional annual exhibition of the Artists' Association of Finland. A comprehensive review of topical contemporary art in Finland, the exhibition features work by 89 artists or groups from all over the country. Selected from freely submitted works, the show presents videos along with paintings, photographs next to installations. The selection was made by a jury of representatives of the Association's member organisations, chaired by the sculptor Nora Tapper.

Under the title Artists 2005, the Association's 110th annual exhibition got more submissions than ever before. According to Nora Tapper, chairperson of the jury, the large number indicates the nation-wide need for open competitions and exhibitions and also attests to the increased number of artists reflecting the greater number of art schools. Nearly 800 artists or groups offered their work for the show, and the total number of submissions came to 2,284. There were a great many young people among the entrants, with the majority being born in the 1970s. In a two-stage screening process, the jury selected 131 works by 89 artists or groups. Artists 2005 presents paintings, sculpture, graphic art, drawings, photographs, videos, installations, mixed-media works and performances.

The Artists' Association of Finland is a joint organisation representing The Association of Finnish Sculptors, the Union of Finnish Art Associations, the Society of Finnish Graphic Artists, the Finnish Painters' Union, the Union of Artist Photographers, and Artists’ Association Muu representing new artistic media. Each member organisation has had a representative on the juries of the Association's annual exhibitions. This year, they were Juha Sääski from the Painters' Union, Irma Tonteri from the Society of Graphic Artists, Markku Hirvelä from the Sculptors' Association, Jyrki Parantainen from the Artist Photographers' Union, and Marcus Lerviks from Artists’ Association Muu. According to Tapper, this year's jury had no particular policy or agenda. The final selection includes all types of excellent artworks from artists of all ages. The most popular genres among the submissions were painting and mixed media, but the proportion of videos and installations is increasing every year.

The Artists' Annual Exhibition alternates with the Young Artists' Exhibition – for artists under 35 – and the curated Triennial of Finnish Art. Kaisu Koivisto began as the new Association's exhibition coordinator in 2005.

An exhibition newsletter will be published in conjunction with the show, and distributed to visitors in Kunsthalle. On the opening of the exhibition, the jury will award the Association's Palokärki prize (400 eur). Prize winners are Raakel Kuukka (b. 1955) and Arto Väisänen (b. 1958). Both received 2000 euros. During the exhibition, performance artist Willem Wilhelmus' performance Red will take place at the Kunsthalle on Sundays 16, 23 and 30 January 2005 at 16.00 (duration 10–15 min).