Nordic Impressions – Stunning Survey of Diverse Nordic Art on Display in D.C.
The Phillips Collection, America's first museum of modern art, presents Nordic Impressions. The xhibition showcases art from Åland, Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, from years 1821-2018. The exhibition is on view until January 13th 2019.
The exhibition features more than 50 Nordic artists and has been realized together with all the Nordic embassies, culminating a project of multi-year Nordic cultural diplomacy.
The planning of this exhibition has its roots in the Nordic Cool event held at the Kennedy Center here in Washington, in 2013. It was the first joint exhibition of Nordic culture within the framework of the Nordic governments’ cultural cooperation.
The exhibition shows different styles of art, everything from the artistic excellence of Nordic painters from the Golden Age and Romantic era (Akseli Gallen-Kallela and Hélène Schjerfbeck) to modern times (Eija-Liisa Ahtila and Hrafnhildus "Shoplifter" Aranardóttir). This exhibition proves also that the Nordic artists have been inspiring each other through the decades and across the national boundaries still respecting their own roots.
The VIP opening event was held on October 9 at the Phillips Collection. The Finnish Minister for Culture Sampo Terho, representing all the Nordic countries, gave opening remarks at the event. Minister was underlying the importance of cross-cultural work, which means that the visitors and art lovers may admire a large selection of leading-edge art from all the Nordic countries, including the self-governing regions of Greenland, the Faroe Islands and the Åland Islands.
Phillips After 5 Events
The Nordic embassies are participating in the Phillips Collection's long-running tradition of hosting after-work events for young professionals at the museum. The Phillips After 5 is a lively mix of art, entertainment, and live music on the first Thursday of the month.
The first Nordic After 5 event was held on 1st of November, with hundreds of Nordic art and culture enthusiasts swarming the hallways of the museum, trying our foods, enjoying Nordic music and even giving a go at Nordic languages!
On 6th of December we showed the best of Nordic Holiday traditions with holiday treats from Denmark and Iceland and jazz by the Yvonne Johnson Quartet and the Finnish Jazz/Tango rhythms of Sanns Four.
Visitors got to experience traditional Nordic holiday musical traditions such as a Lucia Choral procession from Sweden and songs by the Icelandic Yule lads, hang out with friends old and new and got to try making Nordic ornaments and Finnish holiday candles while enjoying winter Nordic short films!
Thank you for all our partners and visitors for these fantastic events. Make sure to check out the Nordic Impressions Exhibition, it is on view until January 13th 2019.