Ihme Helsinki

IHME Helsinki is an art commissioning agency. The Finnish word IHME means “miracle” or “wonder”. However, it is in daily use in a variety of phrases meaning something strange, weird, something that wakens curiosity. At the heart of IHME are annual commissions with international artists and partners that combine art, science and climatework. The mission of IHME is to promote the cultural change needed in environmental crisis. IHME Helsinki wants to promote art in an ecologically sustainable, democratic society as an important part of people’s lives and everyday existences. IHME Helsinki’s starting points are in contemporary art and one of the main contexts for its work is scientific collaboration. Contemporary art is a constantly changing activity: art does not just mirror the world, it also creates and shapes it. IHME Helsinki supports art and changes in the concept of art, it reshapes the idea of publicness and promotes sustainable operating models. Each year, in collaboration with an artist and Finnish and foreign partners the Foundation produces a work of art in public space in Finland and abroad. The Foundation generates new, experiential knowledge and produces discussions related to the themes of the artwork. The Foundation shares the content of the art that it produces with new audiences and through that content takes part in debates in society. The Foundation’s operations are international and aimed at everyone who is interested in cultural and ecological reconstruction.