Newsletter 
In January, the French Institute welcomed over 550 visitors during the LUX Festival. If you didn’t get a chance to stop by at the time, don’t worry — the two works on display can still be seen until 24 February.
Dreaming the Dark in Finland, Pascal Lièvre
Dreaming the Dark in Finland is a video installation that pays tribute to the first Finnish feminists born in the 19th century. By filming the names of these pioneers – written on dark glitter and then erased – the artist addresses the issue of the visibility and invisibility of feminism throughout history by the means of visual art. He considers these 41 feminists chosen for the work to be the ancestors of Western feminism, which resulted with the election of 19 women to the Finnish parliament in 1907. For the first time, Western women were present in parliament, paving the way for all other generations of women.
Hidden Statements – Messages Cachés, Simo Puintila & Kaisu Savola
Since the 19th century, every era has had its own influential “hero designers” and “starchitects” who, through their work and words, have defined the ideals of the built environment. Using a large, movable, illuminated magnifying glass, Hidden Statements – Messages Cachés is a participatory work that invites visitors to explore quotations from renowned French and Finnish architects, designers, and cultural figures.
Yet, when brought into the spotlight, these statements reveal difficult questions between the lines: Who gets to decide how and from what perspectives our living environment is designed? Whose voices remain unheard, and which viewpoints go unexamined?
Opening hours
The exhibition is open during the library’s opening hours:
Tuesday–Wednesday: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Thursday: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Please note that the exhibition may be temporarily taken down during certain events held at the Institute (particularly on Thursdays) and will be reinstalled at the latest by noon the following day. We recommend checking our events calendar to ensure the exhibition is accessible at the time of your visit.