HELSINKI.- The Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, Helsinki, announced details of ARS17 – Hello World!, a survey of contemporary art focusing on the global digital revolution and its impact on our culture and economy, as well as on human identity and behaviour. While celebrating the centenary of Finland's independence in 2017, as part of the official 'Suomi 100' programme, ARS17 also emphasises the importance of looking forward, focusing on the shaping of the next 100 years of Finland. Curated by Dr. Leevi Haapala, the Director of Kiasma, alongside the curatorial team, the whole five floors of the recently-renovated museum will be taken over by visual art, performances, films, discussions and workshops.

Kiasma, one of the leading museums of contemporary art in the Nordic region and part of the Finnish National Gallery, reopened in 2015 after a major redevelopment with a high-profile retrospective of work by Robert Mapplethorpe. The museum is known for their international blockbuster exhibitions, alongside supporting leading Finnish artists. The building that is home to Kiasma, a major architectural landmark in Finland, was designed by American architect Steven Holl, opening originally to the public in 1998.

The ARS exhibitions are a series of international surveys of contemporary art, organised since 1961, with the aim of bringing new and significant contemporary art and global trends to Finland. The exhibitions have so far presented works by over 600 artists, with every edition featuring international artists alongside Finnish and Nordic artists. ARS17 is the ninth exhibition in the series, and the fourth to be held at Kiasma. Each edition at Kiasma has focused on a different theme, including African contemporary art; the capacity of mankind for good and evil; and intercultural encounters.

ARS17 will focus on digital technology, presenting recent and new commissions for the exhibition. In addition to its purely technological applications, it also plays a part in the management of social relations and in communication and community formation. The exhibition also highlights ways in which artists have responded to this transformation. Art plays the role of a pioneer in the digital revolution of culture: although it relies on digital elements, contemporary art also regards its impacts with a certain scepticism, while also helping us to understand the world around us.