Vantaa Art Museum Artsi’s new exhibition Fragile Surface invites visitors to explore what democracy looks like and what it requires from all of us to make it work

The works in the exhibition explore key principles and practices of democracy, including participation, community, civic engagement, freedom of expression, the exercise of power, and voting. The artworks offer diverse perspectives on how individuals can influence matters of common concern and how democracy is reflected in everyday life. Through art, Artsi provides a platform for dialogue on current issues and themes of broader social significance. 

In the exhibition, democracy is not presented as a finished or permanent state, but as an ongoing process shaped and sustained through people’s actions, choices, participation and sense of responsibility. At the same time, the exhibition explores the many ways in which artists interpret questions related to democracy. It invites visitors to reflect on democracy’s strengths, contradictions and vulnerabilities, as well as on how a shared future can be built despite differing views and perspectives. 

Exploring Power, Participation and Freedom of Expression Through Art 

The works in the exhibition approach democracy from multiple perspectives. Historical and contemporary themes intertwine as the artworks examine structures of power, citizens’ opportunities to influence society, and the role of public dialogue in democratic life. 

Who Represents Democracy? 

Artist Katja Tukiainen’s painting Liberty Leading the People (2019–2020) examines democracy through the lenses of representation and participation: whose voices are heard when decisions about shared matters are made, and who gets to become an active participant in society? The work is a reinterpretation of Eugène Delacroix’s iconic painting of the same name (1830), widely recognized as a symbol of democracy and civil rights. In Tukiainen’s version, the heroic figures of the original painting are replaced by girls and women. The work serves as a reminder that democratic rights are not a given, but rather the result of long-term advocacy, engagement and struggle. 

Artist Enni-Kukka Tuomala Explores the Meaning of Voting 

Artist Enni-Kukka Tuomala’s new participatory artwork Voting (2026) examines voting not only as a democratic right but also as an experience of participation, responsibility and influence. The work invites visitors to step into the role of a voter and reflect on their own relationship with democracy. 

The artwork is based on Tuomala’s research, conducted between 2023 and 2025 in Finland, the United Kingdom, the European Union and the United States, into different electoral practices and ways of voting. At the same time, the work forms part of the artist’s broader Election Artist project. 

Graffiti Artists Deos, Hende and CROK Explore the Relationship Between Power and Responsibility 

DISGRACE! G.L.O.B.A.L (2026), a work by graffiti artists Deos, Hende and CROK, examines international power, responsibility and citizens’ opportunities to influence society. The new work continues a conversation that Deos and Hende have pursued through their art. It builds on the graffiti piece DISGRACE! (2016), which sparked widespread public debate about the role of art in public space, criticism of power, and freedom of expression. Originally commenting on local issues in Myyrmäki, the work attracted national attention and has since come to be regarded as an example of art’s right to participate in public and societal debate. 

Artist Eero Tiittula Explores Democracy Through Listening and Connection 

Artist Eero Tiittula’s participatory artwork Exchange explores democracy as an encounter between people and as a practice of participation. In the work, Tiittula invites residents to share a moment over a cup of tea or coffee while he paints their portrait. 

The portraits created as part of the artwork are displayed alternately at Artsi and at Vantaa City Hall, where they take the place of the portraits of former city managers in the City Executive Board’s meeting chamber. At the end of the exhibition, the paintings will be donated to the participants. 

Amid growing polarization and competing interests, Tiittula’s work redirects attention to the everyday encounters on which democratic society is built. 

Youth Artwork Created in Collaboration with the Children and Youth Foundation’s Future School 

The exhibition displays a work created by young people from Vantaa through a series of workshops organized in collaboration between Artsi and the Future School of the Children and Youth Foundation. During the workshops, the participants envisioned an empathetic and positive future for Vantaa. They reflected on the kinds of futures they would like to see and explored the skills, attitudes and actions needed to bring about meaningful and positive changes. 

The artwork amplifies young people's voices in public discourse and serves as a reminder that democracy is built on the opportunity to participate, to be heard and to help shape a shared future. 

The Children and Youth Foundation’s Future School is a pioneer in futures education, combining methods from futures studies with arts education.

Democracy in Everyday Life 

Fragile Surface explores democracy not only through elections, institutions and the exercise of power, but also through everyday experiences. The exhibition highlights how society is shaped through dialogue, disagreement, negotiation, participation and shared responsibility. 

The exhibition at Artsi provides a space where questions raised by art can be explored openly and from multiple perspectives. It encourages visitors to reflect on how democracy works, whose voices are heard in decision-making, how each of us can contribute to shaping matters of common concern, and what is required of society and its members to sustain democracy. 

The artists of the exhibition

Deos, Hende & CROK, Tellervo Kalleinen & Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen, Matti Kolehmainen, Martti Könönen, Erkki Kulovesi, Heidi Linsén, Pekka Mattila, Marjukka Paunila, Bita Razavi, Nanna Susi, Eero Tiittula, Katja Tukiainen, Enni-Kukka Tuomala, Risto Vilhunen 

Artsi invites all to celebrate the opening event of the exhibition on Tue 17 November 2026 from 5 pm to 7 pm. In addition, the Artsi exhibition includes events such as Children's Saturday 21.11.2026, lectures, guided tours, senior mornings and Croquis drawing evenings. See more detailed updated program information: 

Vantaa Event Calender / Artsi

Fragile Surface is open from Wed 18 November until Sun 30 May 2027 
The exhibition is open Tue –Wed 11 am –6 pm, Thurs 1 pm – 8 pm, Fri –Sun 11 am – 4pm.  

Vantaa Art Museum Artsi 
Myyrmäki house, Paalutori 3, 01600 Vantaa   
email: artsi@vantaa.fi / tel. + 358 43 826 8990  
Admission to the Vantaa Art Museum Artsi is free for everyone.