Mika Vainio’s sound installations celebrated in extensive new exhibition

Including 3 x Wall Clocks , 808, and Onko.

Pioneering Finnish electronic musician Mika Vainio’s sound installations are the subject of a new exhibition, called Mika Vainio: 50 Hz, at the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma in Helsinki.

Listen next: VF Mix 91 – Mika Vainio by N.M.O.

Born in 1963, the late Vainio’s work drew inspiration from films, books, urban landscapes and abandoned buildings.

While he remains known for his compositions within the fields of noise, ambient and electronic music, Vainio also worked as a sound artist up until his death in 2017 — exhibiting in group shows across Europe and North America from the 1990s onwards.

Mika Vainio: 50 Hz subsequently brings together a selection of Vainio’s sound installations, including 3 x Wall Clocks (2001), 808 (2015), Onko (1996), Soundchamber Berlin (2004) and – 27 (1998).

The exhibition has been produced in collaboration with Helsinki Fest, which takes place in the Finnish capital this weekend and will be broadcasting live concerts online from Erja Lyytinen, Finnish electropop group Ruusut, a performance of Steve Reich’s Electric Counterpoint, and more.

Mika Vainio: 50 Hz will run at the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma until the 10th January 2021.

Head here for more info on the exhibition, and here to find out more about Helsinki Fest.

Opening hours and address:

Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, Mannerheiminaukio 2, FIN-00100 Helsinki, Finland

Tuesday – Friday: 10am-8:30pm

Saturday: 10am-6pm

Sunday: 10am-5pm

Photo credit, in order of appearance: Annar Bjørgli; LAb[au]; Finnish National Gallery / Pirje Mykkänen; Luigi Discenza.