Powerful Ceramics, Wild Nature, and Reflections on Humanity to Feature in Malva’s 2026 Exhibitions
Local and international artists will appear side by side in next year’s exhibitions at the Lahti Museum of Visual Arts Malva. The line-up features Karim Boumjimar’s evocative ceramics, the untamed nature of the international group exhibition Symbiosis, and In the Layers of Being, an exhibition exploring diverse reflections on the human body and human experience.
The first exhibition to open in 2026 will be Karim Boumjimar’s (b. 1998, Spain) solo show Rites of Affection, which brings together a striking selection of ceramic sculptures and large-scale drawings that pulse with ritualistic and sensual intensity. Completing the show is a lyrical video piece premiering at Malva.
Boumjimar’s practice delves into what it means to be human: the social boundaries and hierarchies that shape us, the experiences of marginalised communities, and possible forms of coexistence between humans and nature. In an age dominated by digitality, Boumjimar uses the medium of ceramics to probe the realities of contemporary existence, restoring to art the immediacy of touch, palpable movement, and the raw essence of material.
“It is a great honour for me to present my work at Malva, a museum committed to ambitious and forward-looking contemporary art. Exhibiting here feels both meaningful and empowering. My exhibition deals with different levels of transformation, thematically moving between collapse and renewal,” the artist says of his exhibition, which opens in April.
Boumjimar studied art in the UK and Denmark, and has recently exhibited in Denmark, Sweden, the UK, Spain.
Karim Boumjimar: Rites of Affection will be on display from April 10 to September 13, 2026, on Malva’s third floor.
Opening in summer, Symbiosis brings untamed nature into the museum. This international group exhibition delves into the mysterious interactions between species, presenting fresh and vibrant works that illuminate the relationships between humans, other organisms, and the environment, often in unexpected ways. Nature and human existence are approached playfully, as intricate webs of interspecies interdependence.
The featured artists explore nature’s diverse networks – especially those of the forest – through mediums including installation, painting, sculpture, ceramics, 3D animation, and photography. Some works are literally alive: visitors are invited, for example, to sow seeds and nurture growing trees. The themes, materials, methods, and life cycles of the artworks reflect the artists’ creative responses to the sustainability challenges of our time.
Symbiosis awakens new perceptions of nature and humanity, drawing together ancient wisdom, scientific understanding, and radical artistic insight.
The featured artists will be Liina Aalto-Setälä, Gerbrand Burger / Thinking Forest, Eyes as Big as Plates (Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen), Alma Heikkilä, Kim Laybourn, nabbteeri, Raimo Saarinen and Diana Scherer.
Symbiosis will run from May 16 to November 1, 2026, on Malva’s first floor.
October sees the opening of In the Layers of Being, an exhibition featuring four artists from the Päijät-Häme region who examine the human body and human experience from diverse perspectives. The exhibition centres on the work of painter Maria Laine and sculptor Marianne Siri, accompanied by a video and audio piece created specifically for this exhibition by visual artist Sami Leutola and dance artist Meri-Tuuli Risberg.
Laine’s meticulously rendered oil paintings draw viewers in with their realism, yet maintain a deliberate sense of composure and distance. Siri’s sculptures place the human body at the forefront, addressing themes such as biodiversity loss, intergenerational heritage, and a critique of contemporary consumerism.
“The resources offered by Malva and its magnificent, spacious galleries will enable us to create a visually impressive and ambitious display. It is a special honour to present this show in our hometown art museum,” the artists say enthusiastically.
In the Layers of Being will be on view from October 9, 2026, to April 18, 2027, on Malva’s third floor.
Malva to Continue its Collaboration with Kettuki and Kaarisilta in 2026
Since 2004, the Kettuki Association has presented its Artist of the Year award to an artist or collective in need of special support. The Kettuki Artist of the Year exhibition will be on display for the second time in Malva’s basement gallery from March 10 to May 17. The Kettuki Association supports artists in need of special support in Finland and acts as an expert network and advocate for art created outside the mainstream art world.
The Kaarisilta Triennale will be held for the seventh time next summer. The event showcases interesting and original art from outside the mainstream and supports the professional work of artists with special needs. The theme of the 2026 Kaarisilta Triennale is the senses. The upcoming triennial will take place across three venues: Malva, Ersta Manor, and the Lahti City Library.
The Kaarisilta Triennale will be on display in the Malva basement gallery from June 23 to August 2, 2026.
Malva’s Exhibitions in 2026:
Kettuki Artist of the Year, March 10–May 17, 2026
Karim Boumjimar: Rites of Affection, April 10–September 13, 2026
Symbiosis, May 16–November 1, 2026
Kaarisilta Triennale, June 23–August 2, 2026
In the Layers of Being, October 9, 2026–April 18, 2027 9
Roots – Treasures from the Collections
Further Information:
Karim Boumjimar: Rites of Affection and In the Layers of Being:
Exhibition Curator Kukka Pitkänen, kukka.pitkanen@lahti.fi, +358 (0)44 482 0899
Symbiosis:
Exhibition Curator Ki Nurmenniemi, ki.nurmenniemi@lahti.fi, +358 (0)50 518 4591
Kettuki Artist of the year:
Collections Curator Liisa Mäkitalo, Liisa.makitalo@lahti.fi, 044 482 6119
The Kaarisilta Triennale:
Exhibition Curator Ilari Laamanen, ilari.laamanen@lahti.fi, +358 (0)44 483 1993
Head of Exhibitions Päivi Roivainen, paivi.roivainen@lahti.fi, +358 (0)44 483 1942
