March 7—29 2025
Open Wed—Fri 12—6 pm, Sat—Sun 12—5 pm
Opening on Thursday March 6 at 5—8 pm

Illačču on Friday March 21 at 6—9 pm

Tulgua terveh, welcome, to illačču hosted by the organising team of the Keššetäh exhibition in Oksasenkatu 11 gallery 21st of March from 6 to 9pm! 

The event is intended for Karelians, but you’re welcome to bring a few ally friends that you deem safe with you. There’s no specific programme: we just want to offer Karelians a comfortable, safe space to meet new people, old acquaintances, chat, ponder or just hang out.

We will serve tea and snacks. You are free to explore the library and the exhibition at your leisure. Bring along unfinished craft projects if you have any!

In Karelian villages, it used to be common to organise illačču, where villagers would gather to socialise. The village craftspeople would often work together on unfinished handicraft projects. Among Karelians who have settled in Finland and their descendants, the tradition lives on in its own forms, but in the capital region, where there are many people of Karelian background, there is a relatively large number of those who live isolated from the culture and the community. Karjalazet Nuoret Suomes-advecy organization started organising illačču events last year, with the aim of bringing Karelians living in the capital region together and thereby building a deeper sense of community. The Keššetäh exhibition team hopes to contribute to this effort. We also hope that those of you who don’t yet know other Karelians will have the courage to join us!

The exhibition and events are organised by Erika Ryppieva, Iva Matiyas, Viktor Beloff ja Papu Hyypiä.

The vernissage drinks are provided by The Good Guys Kombucha.

 (1) Enges, Pasi & Koski, Kaarina, 2021. Oudolla tavalla eksyksissä (92-94), Elore article archive https://doi.org/10.30666/elore.110956