History
The inauguration of the Hämeenlinna Art Museum took place on May 24, 1952. The press commented this cultural event in the following way: ”The most up-to-date art museum in Finland has been opened”. The first curator of the Hämeenlinna Art Museum was the painter, professor Taisto Ahtola.
The granary designed by C. L. Engel in 1837 was renovated and turned into museum facilities in the early 1950s. The building has almost preserved its original outlook, the only change being that the original white colour of the walls was turned into light ochre. The changes were made under the guidance of the city architect Olavi Sahlberg. Floor heating, the general light colouring of the halls and fluorescent lighting represented the latest museum technology.
The Engel building was renovated in 2002 - 2004.
The core of the Museum collection is made up by the works, evacuated from the Vyborg Art Museum in 1939 to save them from the threat of the coming war. Important donations made by the painter Ester Helenius, sculptor Mikko Hovi and textile artist Laila Karttunen make up a considerable part of the museum’s collection as well. The first exhibitions featured paintings by Ester Helenius and works of the Artists’ Associations of Vyborg and Hämeenlinna.
In 1997, the red-brick building of the museum opened its doors to the public. It had originally been designed as a granary by the architect E. B. Lohrmann. At present the Lohrmann building houses the Henna and Pertti Niemistö collection of contemporary art.
Viimeksi muokattu
23.4.2009
