Monuments is a programme of events curated by the Social Choreography Lab Helsinki for Pixelache Festival 2025. The programme invites audiences to reflect on the idea of monuments in public space in the city of Helsinki: not as static symbols of power or permanence, but as living, contested spaces where memory, identity, and imagination intersect. What does it mean to build, dismantle, or reimagine a monument today? The programme unfolds across various public monuments and urban sites throughout June, July, and August 2025.
Invited artists Antonia Atarah, Elias Berglund, Jonna Karanka and Vega Adsten explore these questions through guided walks, workshops and performances at selected monuments and public spaces across the city.
Some of the locations include: the Johan Ludvig Runeberg’s Memorial in Esplanadi, Nyrkkeilijät / The Boxers statue in Paasivuoren puistikko next to Hakaniemi market square, the Taivaskallio WWII military site, Evakkoäiti muistomerkki / Evacuee Mother in Karjalatalo, as well as the protected heritage kiosk Käpylän Kiska in Meurman park. The artist-led programme is completed by Social Choreography Lab’s yearly Summer Fest: a community day-celebration with mini-workshops, music, open grill, piñata, and art for the whole family. The Summer Fest takes place in July at Käpylä’s Meurmanin puisto, in collaboration with the amazing crew from Käpylän Kiska.
Please note: Pre-registration is encouraged for performances by Elias Bergelund, Antonia Atarah and Vega Adsten. To register and secure your spot, please email: socialchoreography.helsinki@gmail.com
ALL EVENTS ARE FREE OF CHARGE
PROGRAMME
BARD (Body As Receptive Divinity) – performance by Elias Berglund
12 July, Saturday, 17:00
Johan Ludvig Runeberg’s Memorial, Esplanadi
Swedish / English / Finnish
Summer Fest
26 July, Saturday, 13:00–18:00
Meurman park / Käpylän Kiska
Live Soundtrack Performance by Jonna Karanka (Kuupuu)
15 August, Friday, 21:00
Meurman park / Käpylän Kiska
Nyrkkeilijät (The Boxers) – Workshop/performance by Vega Adsten
16 August, Saturday, 14:00 – 16:00 (join at any time / leave when you need)
Paasivuoren puistikko, Siltasaari/Hakaniemi
Swedish / English
Radical Imagination Workshop by Antonia Atarah
Thursday 28.8 at 17:30-20:00
Start and finish at Meurman park / Käpylän Kiska
Swedish / English / Finnish
Organizers
This programme is organized by Pixelache Festival (Piknik Frequency Ry)
Pixelache (Piknik Frequency Ry) is a cultural association of artists, cultural producers, thinkers, and activists based in Helsinki and connected to an international network. Since 2002, Pixelache has fostered emerging cultural practices at the intersection of art, technology, and society.
For more information, visit the Pixelache website or contact:
socialchoreography.helsinki@