“The Universe of Kalevala: epic poem in arts”

A new section of the permanent exposition called “The Universe of Kalevala: epic poem in arts” opened in March 2021 in the Museum of Fine Arts of the Republic of Karelia.

It has become possible thanks to the project “Museums in Focus: Development of Cultural Services for Chinese Tourists” implemented within the Karelia CBC Programme.

Have you ever heard about cultural brand of Karelia?

Surely it is Kalevala, a 19th-century work of epic poetry compiled by Elias Lönnrot from Karelian and Finnish oral folklore and mythology. It is regarded as the national epic poem of Karelia and Finland and is one of the most significant works of literature. It inspired many prominent artists. It was and remains an inexhaustible source and incentive for artists.

The Museum of fine arts of the Republic of Karelia has a remarkable Kalevala collection. It accounts for more than 600 distinctive artworks by artists of Karelia, St. Petersburg and Moscow. Enjoy a unique opportunity to discover Karelian culture through the must-see “gold” fund of Museum’s collection.
“Kalevala” is truly a national treasure. The exhibition is created specifically for guests of our Republic. It represents the “pearls” of the museum collection, which form a unique image of the northern land.
Get closer to Karelian culture and immerse yourself in the world of secrets, magic, original rituals and traditions!

The sounds of Karelian traditional musical instrument Kantele will lead you through the Rune singing forest; an unusual installation “Pike” will acquaint you with the traditions of folk life, share a recipe for brewing and invite you to breathe in the aromas of Kalevala.

The new exposition presents over a hundred museum items including the unique female images of Tamara Yufa, works by Boris Akbulatov, watercolors by Georgy Stronk and Osmo Borodkin, linocut by Myud Mechev, paintings by Nikolai Bryukhanov and Vitaly Dobrynin, etchings by Yuri Lyukshin. Some works will be presented for the first time.

Exhibition concept by: Lyudmila Nikiforova
Design by: Anastasia Dubrovskaya, Andrey Skritsky (St. Petersburg)
Project manager: Tatiana Saltykova
PR: Irina Latkina