Fiskars Village Art & Design Biennale has come to an end – thank you for being part of it!

This summer’s Fiskars Village Art & Design Biennale has come to an end – thank you to everyone who took part! The Biennale’s shared theme, water, flowed through the exhibitions, artworks and discussions, reminding us of a vital natural resource that connects us all and whose future concerns us all.

The Biennale consisted of two main exhibitions and a diverse programme of parallel events. The main exhibitions were Sense of Water, produced by Luovi, and DEW, presented by Onoma.

The Biennale opened in suitably rainy but joyful conditions.

Curated by researcher and artist Riikka Latva-Somppi, Sense of Water explored the human relationship with water and how knowledge, emotions and actions shape our understanding of it. Bringing together art, design, science and personal experiences, the exhibition addressed topics such as caring for water and the impact of plastics on aquatic environments, inviting visitors to reflect on their own relationship with water.

The exhibition occupied the top floor of the Fiskars Granary. Alongside it, the middle floor presented Material Flow, an exhibition of works by Aalto University students, while the ground floor housed the Biennale Shop, showcasing a curated selection of contemporary Finnish design and crafts.

The works in the Sense of Water exhibition explored the Biennale’s theme through contemporary art and research.

DEW was an exhibition by Onoma, the cooperative of Fiskars-based craftspeople, designers and artists. Curated and designed by architect Marco Casagrande, the exhibition explored the water cycle and its significance to life through the works of around 60 artists.

The exhibition was created in dialogue with the Fiskars River, the historic surroundings of the ironworks village and its old buildings. It brought together art and science and invited visitors to reflect on our relationship with water and the natural environment around us.

The *DEW* exhibition brought together works by artists, designers and craftspeople.

In addition to the main exhibitions, Fiskars and the surrounding area offered a diverse parallel programme. The programme aimed to strengthen the diversity and sense of community of the Biennale. Local artists, designers and galleries came together to create a vibrant and multifaceted programme featuring exhibitions, discussions, workshops and performances.

Curated by Aalto University professors **Tomek Rygalik** and **Katrin Greiling**, the exhibition explored the circular economy from the perspective of furniture design and challenged the traditional “take–make–dispose” approach. The exhibition was part of the Biennale’s parallel programme.

The unique setting of Fiskars Village provided a particularly meaningful context for the Biennale’s water theme. Water has played an essential role in the history and industrial development of the area and remains a visible part of the village’s landscape and environment. At the Biennale, this historical setting was brought together with questions of the present and reflections on the future.

The Fiskars Village area provided an excellent setting beyond the indoor exhibition spaces as well. Kim Simonsson, The Curse of Kullervo.

The Biennale reminded us that art and design can help us look at familiar things from new perspectives. Water, something we might pause beside simply to admire the landscape, is also one of the key questions shaping our future. Although the Biennale has now come to an end, the conversation continues. What will water mean to us in the future – and what changes are we willing to make to protect it?

A warm thank you to the exhibition curators, artists, designers, organisers of the parallel programme, partners and visitors. Your participation made the Biennale a successful and memorable whole. See you again in Fiskars in 2028!