The Land of Forestfulness

In Finland, the forest is present everywhere. It is our most important and diverse natural environment and resource. Here, the forest has always had a strong impact on people, communities and society – and we, in turn, on the forest. The forest has been simultaneously a lifeblood, an important place and a shared mental landscape. Forest culture consists of shared perceptions, meanings, practices, and ways related to the forest – multi-dimensional human-forest relationships. Forest culture lives on and evolves over time. It is precisely the change that makes it vibrant.

Upcoming special exhibitions

Curly brich – the tree pressed by the devil

Curly birch is a special variety of silver birch with distinctive story intertwining folklore, rare genome, research, and the potential for design. Strong and characterful, curly birch is hard, durable and beautiful.

This exhibition explores the history, significance and future of Finland’s most valuable wood. The story of curly birch spans from peasant uses and beliefs to the drawing rooms of courts and manors, from the era of national awakening to wartime craftsmanship, and all the way to contemporary design and future visions.

Finland is at the forefront of curly birch research and cultivation. Long-term research and development have resulted in numerous curly birch plantations in the country. These stands will soon yield more high-quality curly birch, offering opportunities for furniture and interior design, as well as other product development. The exhibition encourages both designers and companies to experiment with this unique material and find new uses for it.

The exhibition is complemented by the Curly Birch Trail, a series of guided observation points located within the curly birch stands of Punkaharju research forest. The Curly Birch Trail and its associated website, www.visakoivu.fi, offer a deeper exploration of the fascinating world of the curly birch.

This exhibition is the result of a collaboration between the Finnish Forest Museum Lusto, Aalto University, the Natural Resources Institute Finland, Pro Puu Association, the Craft Museum of Finland, and the Curly Birch Society. The exhibition has been supported by the Keskitie Foundation, the Asko Foundation, the Huonekalusäätiö Foundation, the Kone Foundation, the Foundation of The Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK), and the Puumiesten Ammattikasvatussäätiö Foundation. The Curly Birch Trail has been supported by the Metsämiesten Säätiö Foundation.

Text writing and material selection: Anneli Viherä-Aarnio, Risto Hagqvist, Seija Hahl, Henrik Heräjärvi, Tuomas Juva, Reetta Karhunkorva, Mikko Oikari, Esko Oksa, Mikko Paakkanen, Karola Sahi, Markku Tonttila.