Library Genesis

Library Genesis is a site-specific group exhibition at Rikhardinkatu Library in June-July 2026. The artists are Sara Blosseville, Kryštof Kučera, Hikari Nishida, Frans Nybacka, Jaakko Pallasvuo, Heu Hsu and Xiao Zhiyu. The curator is Uni Nissinen.

The exhibition starts from the idea of the universe as an architecture of information and the library as its metaphor - an allegory whose most famous embodiment is Jorge Luis Borges' philosophical novella La biblioteca de Babel (1941). A furniture-like wooden sculpture by carpenter Kryštof Kučera that resembles a bookshelf serves as a unifying element and supports the exhibition's other works. The collection of works is placed in a hybrid structure that develops its own internal semiotics.

The exhibition venue is Rikhardinkatu Library, completed in 1882 and the first building in the Nordic region designed as a public library. The library has an art lending collection and a collection of over 500 art books. Library Genesis is positioned at the base of the spiral staircase connecting the library's floors - the so-called book tower.

The exhibition is open during library hours from 4.6 to 31.7.2026. The opening is held on 3.6 from 18 to 20, Rikhardinkatu 3. At the opening, Heu Hsu presents a sound work exploring the acoustics of the library hall, and a limited edition of Library Genesis caps designed by Jaakko Pallasvuo will be sold.

The exhibition has been supported by the Arts Promotion Centre and the Finnish Cultural Foundation. Poster: Vivien Sorrentino. Thanks to special librarians Jyri-Petteri Volkoff and Chris Gurney.