A perfect day in Tampere

Who said that without food we would die, but without art we would starve? That was the reason to spend a Saturday in my old hometown Tampere where you can nowadays find good art and good food.

 

Incubate, 2010. Subodh Gupta/Hauser & Wirth.

The first address was Sara Hildén Art Museum and Subodh Gupta exhibition. This Indian artist is truly amazing. From his private observations based in his own history and the traditions of his native country grow a whole new world.

Stainless steel bowls, cups, lunch boxes, forks and spoons are shiny alphabets of his Indian vocabulary. What does come out of those huge eggs, warming themselves under the crystal chandeliers?

 

The exhibition is open until the end of April from Tuesday to Sunday at 11-18.  Closed during Eastern days 22. and 24.4.

Address is Laiturikatu 13, Särkänniemi, 33230 Tampere. Phone (03) 5654 3500.

Next step was Tampereen Taidemuseo to see the exhibition of The Young Artist of the Year: Anna Tuori.

Her paintings look first almost too sweet and skillfully made until you see things beneath the surface. The fairy tales turn into bad dreams; they are travel tickets to the depths of mind.

 Anna Tuori: Into the Wood I Made , 2009. Oil on board, 120 x 130 cm.

 

Psychokinesis, 2009. Oil on board, 40 x 30 cm.

This tiny painting was one of my favorites. How powerful can our mental abilities be?  
This one I found very impressive, too. The loneliness and nightmares of the childhood...

 

Fugitive Kind, 2006. Oil on canvas, 60 x 80 cm.

Anna Tuori exhibition is open until 24.4. from Tuesday to Sunday at 10-18. Closed on Good Friday. Address Puutarhakatu 34. Phone (03) 5656 6577.

After art the real food was badly needed.

We had a late lunch in the inner courtyard of Kehräsaari in chef Stefan Richter´s brand new Steakhouse that was opened in the beginning of March and seems to be pretty popular already.

Finnish-American Stefan became famous when he was taking part in America´s Top Chef competition and did quite well. Stefan is born in Tampere, has a summer house in Finland and even speaks Finnish, so we Finns did adopt him immediately. No wonder that he wanted a restaurant of his own in his old hometown.

 

The kitchen is in the middle of the restaurant so we can watch the busy cooks. My Tenderloin steak of Finnish beef was really good. A bit overdone, so I got the dessert for free. Thanks!

Book a table online http://www.bookatable.com/fi/118064/stefans-steakhouse/fi-FI or phone 010 423 3240.

The restaurant is open for Saturday and Sunday lunches and in the evenings from Tuesday to Sunday, closed on Mondays.