HELSINKI.- Kiasma presents The Tracking Traces, through February 2010. “Kiasma’s tenth collection exhibition reflects its time perceptively. The works convey an intimate experience in a public space that invites us to comment and listen. The theme of the exhibition – traces – also mirrors a broader public debate,” writes the museum director Berndt Arell in his preface to the exhibition book.

The Tracking Traces... collection exhibition examines people, nature and culture through traces. Traces can be found near and far, on the human body, in advertising imagery and in the urban space. They can be consciously or accidentally created signs and imprints that we leave and encounter every day.

The exhibition is divided into three thematic sections: Smudge, Bar Code and Imprint. The Smudge theme shows the city as it is mediated through signs and actions. Issues explored by the works in this section include globalisation, subvertising and civic activism. The featured artists include Tuomas Laitinen, Mimmo Rotella, Riiko Sakkinen and Liisa Lounila.

The Bar Code section shows contemporary art employing the full range of visual culture as its material. The works in this section borrow images from all types of sources, altering their meanings. The works share a sense of lightness, humour and irony, while challenging the aesthetic conventions of visual art. The featured artists include Jani Leinonen, Jiri Geller, Roy Lichtenstein and Humberto Junca.

The third theme examines the human body as an image. Imprints left on the body are often recognizable signs such as sleep wrinkles, bites or bruises. The psychological imprint of an event may be more permanent than its physical trace. Artists featured in this section include Adel Abidin, Veli Granö, Eija-Liisa Ahtila, Lucio Fontana and Pinar Yolacan.

The Tracking Traces... exhibition is curated by Eija Aarnio, Leevi Haapala and Pirkko Siitari. This, Kiasma’s tenth collection exhibition, explores cultural traces through 122 works by 51 artists.