Ismo Hölttö – Goldsmith of Finnish photography exhibition features Hölttö’s celebrated photos from the 1960s. The iconic Helsinki photos together with powerful portraits taken in the Finnish countryside capture the essence of the social transition and evolution of the 1960s. These images embody the spirit of a nation on the threshold of inevitable change that altered the face of many countries throughout the 19th and 20th centuries: post-war melancholia and sorrowful nostalgia at the loss of agrarian lifestyle, tempered with the optimistic hope of a people transitioning to an urban society.
Ismo Hölttö (b. 1940) is considered one of the most outstanding Finnish photographers of all time. Hölttö shot the main body of his artistic work in the 1960s when he undertook a project photographing a diversity of Finnish people in authentic settings during an era of major social transition. Hölttö received recognition for his portraits already when they were first published, and today his work is compared with that of the best-known names in the history of photography.
Although Ismo Hölttö is best known for his portraits taken in the countryside, he shot the vast majority of his work in his hometown, Helsinki. Hölttö’s Helsinki material make up the finest and most extensive series of photographs documenting the capital city since the work of Signe Brander and I. K. Inha. While these two grand photographers of the beginning of the twentieth century principally focused on recording broader street and city views, Hölttö was interested in the inhabitants of Helsinki and mastered what is undoubtably the most difficult genre of photography: portraiture of people in their authentic living environment.
The world captured by Ismo Hölttö no longer exists. However, behind the nostalgia called forth by these images, Hölttö accomplishes the most important task of a documentarian: he shows us who we used to be. At the same time, he helps us to understand who we are now.
Glasshouse Helsinki gallery is a place for art, design, new ideas, thoughts and innovations.
Glasshouse Helsinki gallery Aleksanterinkatu 13, 1st floor, 00100 Helsinki
Experimental light installations and lamps made out of concrete
Heavy, big, ugly, rough, vague, grey, hard… These are often the first attributes we relate to concrete. The design students from Aalto University’s School of Arts, Design and Architecture are challenging these established conventions of concrete as material by trying to combine concrete and light.
This year, the main events Helsinki Design Week 2021 will take place at Glasshouse Helsinki Aleksanterinkatu location taking over the second, third and fourth floors.
Ismo Hölttö: Suomalaisen valokuvan kultaseppä 11.–21.5.2022
Ismo Hölttö – Suomalaisen valokuvan kultaseppä,Goldsmith of Finnish Photography
Exhibition 10.5.–21.5.2022
Ismo Hölttö – Goldsmith of Finnish photography exhibition features Hölttö’s celebrated photos from the 1960s. The iconic Helsinki photos together with powerful portraits taken in the Finnish countryside capture the essence of the social transition and evolution of the 1960s. These images embody the spirit of a nation on the threshold of inevitable change that altered the face of many countries throughout the 19th and 20th centuries: post-war melancholia and sorrowful nostalgia at the loss of agrarian lifestyle, tempered with the optimistic hope of a people transitioning to an urban society.
Ismo Hölttö (b. 1940) is considered one of the most outstanding Finnish photographers of all time. Hölttö shot the main body of his artistic work in the 1960s when he undertook a project photographing a diversity of Finnish people in authentic settings during an era of major social transition. Hölttö received recognition for his portraits already when they were first published, and today his work is compared with that of the best-known names in the history of photography.
Although Ismo Hölttö is best known for his portraits taken in the countryside, he shot the vast majority of his work in his hometown, Helsinki. Hölttö’s Helsinki material make up the finest and most extensive series of photographs documenting the capital city since the work of Signe Brander and I. K. Inha. While these two grand photographers of the beginning of the twentieth century principally focused on recording broader street and city views, Hölttö was interested in the inhabitants of Helsinki and mastered what is undoubtably the most difficult genre of photography: portraiture of people in their authentic living environment.
The world captured by Ismo Hölttö no longer exists. However, behind the nostalgia called forth by these images, Hölttö accomplishes the most important task of a documentarian: he shows us who we used to be. At the same time, he helps us to understand who we are now.
Glasshouse Helsinki gallery is a place for art, design, new ideas, thoughts and innovations.
Glasshouse Helsinki gallery
Aleksanterinkatu 13, 1st floor, 00100 Helsinki
View opening hours here
Read more
Valon muotoja – Forms of Light 10.6.–20.8.2022
Experimental light installations and lamps made out of concrete
Heavy, big, ugly, rough, vague, grey, hard… These are often the first attributes we relate to concrete. The design students from Aalto University’s School of Arts, Design and Architecture are challenging these established conventions of concrete as material by trying to combine concrete and light.
MoreCancelled due to COVID-19: Helsinki Design Week 9.–19.9.2021
This year, the main events Helsinki Design Week 2021 will take place at Glasshouse Helsinki Aleksanterinkatu location taking over the second, third and fourth floors.
MoreAn Array Of New Exhibitions 9.9. – 2.10.2021
As part of Helsinki Design Week celebrations we are proud to present six exhibitions of art, design and sustainability.
MoreLokal’s summer exhibition 10.6. – 29.8.2021
For the summer the Glasshouse Helsinki gallery space is also a home for Lokal’s summer exhibition presenting artwork by Lokal’s artists.
More