Paula Toppila Bücher

IHME, meaning “miracle” or “wonder” in Finnish, captures the essence of curiosity through the annual IHME Contemporary Art Festival (2009–2018), organized by Pro Arte Foundation Finland. This festival enhances the visibility and accessibility of visual art, promoting it as a vital resource for democratic society and daily life. Celebrating its tenth year, the festival features commissioned public art alongside lectures, discussions, films, and workshops. This publication documents the ten annual commissions and includes conversations with the artists. Featured artists include Mirosław Bałka, Yael Bartana, Christian Boltanski, Jeremy Deller, Antony Gormley, Henrik Håkansson, Susan Philipsz, Kateřina Šedá, Superflex, Theaster Gates, and The Black Monks of Mississippi. Christian Boltanski, born in 1944 in Paris, has focused on photographic and autobiographical works since the late 1960s, creating archival pieces that inventory lives, both real and fictitious. Henrik Håkansson, born in 1968, is known for his unique blend of natural and human-made elements, gaining international acclaim. Susan Philipsz, born in 1965 in Glasgow, utilizes sound as her artistic medium. The Danish artist group Superflex, founded in 1993, creates installations and films that address financial crises, migration, and climate change, providing “tools” for social and economic influence. Their work invites viewer participation and raises questions about re