So long, thanks again for the fish / 喂！拜拜你條尾 / Terve, ja kiitos taas kaloista

Artists: Luke Ching Chin Wai, Christopher K. Ho, Lam Tung Pang, Cédric Maridet, Angela Su

So long, thanks again for the fish is the first group exhibition of Hong Kong artists in Finland and coincides with the inaugural event of the Helsinki Biennale. The show features new commissions by Luke Ching Chin wai, Christopher K. Ho, Lam Tung Pang, Cédric Maridet, and Angela Su. The title of the exhibition refers to the sci-fi classic of Hitchhiker’s Guide and takes from this series the absurdity of thinking of endings and beginnings as conclusive moments in cycles of change. In these imperfect times, where are the beginnings and endings?

In recent years, Hong Kong faced many social and political upheavals and changes. We also continue to face a global pandemic that impacts our health, our livelihoods, our borders and sense of community. But Hong Kong is not alone in experiencing an uncertain future. This exhibition, knowing that we are all somehow entangled, ask: Instead of utopian futures, should we be looking at the imperfect to recalibrate the stuff of survival? The selected five artists explore the theme of the necessity of being imperfect as a mode of survival and turn to their personal reflections on defiance, renewal and hope as the touchstones of their works. 

This show also takes as inspiration Anna Tsing’s The Mushroom at the End of the World and her proposal of collaborative survival. Tsing uses contaminations as encounters that unknowingly seep into and alter structures that can lead to diversity, and collaboration as a way of working across differences. The artworks see artists collaborating with singers, builders, writers, illustrators and code poets. Collectively, these artists, representing Hong Kong, seek unexpected connections and diversity by disrupting the historical site of Levyhalli on Suomenlinna, a UNESCO site with its rich history as a fortress island that has witnessed a long history of imperfect encounters.  

Curator: Yeewan Koon
Exhibition design: COLLECTIVE
Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Co-organised by the Art Promotion Office and HIAP – Helsinki International Artist Programme
Supported by the Governing Body of Suomenlinna and the City of Helsinki

So long, thanks again for the fish is part of Helsinki Biennial Inspired programme. Helsinki Biennial is an international art event that will bring outstanding contemporary art to maritime Helsinki. The first Helsinki Biennial will be held in the unique surroundings of Vallisaari Island from June 6 to September 26, 2021.

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 11–6pm.