Jan Olof Mallander - Extended Play

The artist, art critic, gallerist, and art collector Jan Olof Mallander (b.1944) has been a living legend in the Finnish art world since the 1960s. He was a central figure in introducing international avant-garde, Fluxus, and underground art to Finland. His early works in minimalism and conceptual art also brought together interdisciplinary joint events and happenings. Mallander co-founded the significant artist group Elonkorjaajat (The Harvesters) in the early 1970s.

The gallery Cheap Thrills, founded by Mallander in Helsinki, served as a center for events in the 1970s. Cheap Thrills presented photographic art, comics, installations, postcard art, conceptual art, and performance – the obvious art forms in today’s contemporary art. The first exhibition of Elonkorjaajat was shown in 1972 at Vaasa City Art Gallery. The group’s activities were an essential part of Mallander’s career. As an art critic, he worked in both Finland and Sweden, presenting the latest forms of international art in his writings.

The extensive solo exhibition at Kuntsi Museum of Modern Art showcases the artist’s impact in various roles. The exhibition’s title work, Extended Play (1968), is a classic of conceptual art that, as a sound work, reflects the political climate of the time. In addition to Mallander’s own artistic production, a selection from his art collection, which includes over 300 works by international and Finnish artists, will also be displayed. The collection has arisen from an interest in Eastern religions and philosophy and to realize his own spiritual development.

Other artists represented in the exhibition: Mirja Airas, Maija Albrecht, Martti Anttila, Juhana Blomstedt, Christo, Maya Eizin Öijer, Carolus Enckell, Leonora Fredriksson, Tarmo Hakala, Heidi Hankaniemi, Outi Heiskanen, Topi Heiskanen, Gunzi Holmström, Maija Hopeavuori, Hannu Hurme, Lars Johansson, Jasper Johns, Ray Johnson, Seija Jouhki, Beata Joutsen, Teemu Kangas, Irma Kanon, Keijo Kansonen, Antero Kare, Juho Karjalainen, Pentti Kaskipuro, Karri Kokko, Auli Korhonen, Olli Kortekangas, Inari Krohn, Kristian Krokfors, Jarmo Kukkonen, Mikko Kurenniemi, Hannu Lahtinen, Harri Larjosto, Olli Lyytikäinen, Eeva Mela, Pekka Nevalainen, Nam June Paik, Caroline Pipping, Erkki Pirtola, Silja Rantanen, Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd, Esa Riippa, Teppo Rinne, Pekka Ryynänen, Tuomo Saali, Kimmo Sarje, Kalevi Seilonen, Carl Erik Ström, Risto Suomi, Ilkka Juhani Takalo-Eskola, Emilia Tanner, Airi Tolonen, Erik Uddström, Keiji Uematsu, Gua Vainio, Janne Vainio, Jouko Vatanen, Sakari Viika, Hannu Väisänen, Ilkka Väätti, Andy Warhol, Jan Kenneth Weckman, Oliver Whitehead, Peter Widén, Stuart Wrede, Elsa Ytti, Ö-ryhmä 

The exhibition is produced by Vaasa Museums and can only be seen at Kuntsi Museum for Modern Art. It is curated by Head of Exhibitions Maaria Salo in cooperation with the artist.

The exhibition is supported by Gröndahl Brother´s Foundation and the Finnish Heritage Agency and it has been chosen Art Testers 2025.

 

Member of Parliament Pekka Haavistos Opening Speech 5.9 (in finnish)