The Helsinki Biennial's third edition, titled "Shelter: Below and beyond, becoming and belonging," opens on Vallisaari Island, featuring 37 artists and collectives. Co-curated by Blanca de la Torre and Kati Kivinen, the biennial deliberately shifts focus away from humans, centering instead on flora, fauna, and the natural environment under the slogan "Non-humans first!" The event continues its founding commitment to carbon neutrality by 2030, employing measures like a carbon footprint calculator, promotion of slow travel, and rejection of artificial lighting to protect local bat populations.
This biennial matters because it tackles the inherent contradiction of large-scale international art shows claiming environmental consciousness while generating significant carbon emissions. By foregrounding non-human perspectives and embedding itself within a protected nature reserve, the Helsinki Biennial offers a rare model for how major art events can genuinely engage with sustainability. Its practical pledges and thematic focus on decentering humanity provide a credible alternative to greenwashing, potentially influencing how other biennials and cultural institutions approach ecological responsibility.