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15.5.-5.9.2021 REAL OR NOT – At the origins of artwork

This exhibition explores the multifaceted works of art situated between original artworks and forgeries, such as copies, pastiches, reproductions and replicas. Consisting of a rich compilation of both older and contemporary art, this exhibition raises questions on what the originality of an artwork essentially means, and how important it is. In addition, the exhibition offers new and interesting visual perspectives into Finnish art history.
Not all copies are forgeries, and imitation is not always an act of copying. The history of Western art is inundated with artworks which have been copied in artistic education. In addition to making copies as part of their training, artists have copied their own work, repeating the same characters, details or entire subjects in their work. Artists have always been influenced by each other. They have borrowed subjects, studied them from new perspectives, and transferred them to the current day. Art is always based on tradition in some way or another.

Group Ö: The Fighting Capercaillies from the series Money! 1981. Photo@Harri Larjosto