An impressive array of art

Hanna Rönnberg/Backsluttning

Åland’s location in the middle of the Baltic Sea has naturally influenced its art. When living on an island, the sea is ever-present, and depictions of nature are often recurring. Åland’s close proximity to the coasts of Sweden and Finland is also tangible.

It began with fresco painting in Åland’s medieval stone churches and continued with folk art, portraits of ships and plein air painting during the 1800s. One of Åland’s most well-known artists in the 19th century was Karl Emanuel Jansson (1846-74), who painted the beloved portrait A Peasant Bride from Åland (Åländsk bondbrud). In Önningeby, Åland’s answer to the Skagen Painters formed around Turku artist Victor Westerholm (1860-1919). His summer retreat was a gathering place for artists, such as Hanna Rönnberg, J.A.G. Acke and Edvard Westman, to come and paint together.

IN 1953, the Åland Art Association was founded, with its mission being to “kindle and deepen interest in the visual arts in Åland”. Mission well accomplished. Although nature remained an important motif, it was now joined by influences of Cubism, Expressionism and Concretism. Some of the higher profile artists include Nils Byman (1906-96), Hildur Stenbäck (1912-98), Henrik Nylund (1945-1982), Nanna Sjöström (1949-2018) and Guy Frisk (b. 1934). The Åland Art Association also laid the groundwork for the Åland Art Museum, which opened in 1963. Today, the museum has over 1,300 works with connections to Åland in its collections.

PAINTING IS STILL the leading medium today, but you will also encounter new media and other forms of artistic expression. Art is critical of modern society, with artists willing to take a stand and highlight topical issues. You will see some of these in the Art Museum’s summer exhibition, IN YOUR FACE, where six women artists who are in some way connected with Åland display everything from paintings to video. A wide-ranging array that also characterises today’s working artists.

EACH YEAR, artists welcome visitors to their studios during Konstrundan, which is an event that is sure to be of interest, with its fascinating encounters and discussions. Many artists also receive visitors upon arrangement.

ART TO SEE

ÅLAND ART MUSEUM in Mariehamn ÖNNINGEBY MUSEUM in Jomala. GALLERIET OCH GALLERI JUHA P in Mariehamn. GALLERI SKARPANS in Saltvik. KULTURFABRIKEN in Mariehamn. KONSTRUNDAN WITH OPEN STUDIOS, 3-4 September.