The candidates for the Ars Fennica art award 2014 have been announced. The nominated artists for the biggest art prize in Finland are IC-98 Patrik Söderlund and Visa Suonpää, Riitta Ikonen, Tellervo Kalleinen & Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen, Leena Nio and Pauliina Turakka Purhonen. Two of the five candidates, artist group IC-98 and painter Leena Nio, are also presented at the ARCOmadrid 2014 art fair.
The Ars Fennica is an internationally respected award. It is made annually to one Nordic, Baltic or St Petersburg artist in recognition of distinctive artistic output of high merit. The award includes a monetary prize of 40 000 euros, a catalogue of works by the winner and an exhibition tour of three Finnish art museums.
The prize is granted by the Henna and Pertti Niemistö Ars Fennica Art Foundation. In 2014 the Ars Fennica is being awarded for the 21 time.
The award winner will be chosen by an international art expert whose identity will be declared later. The winner will be announced during the Ars Fennica candidates’ exhibition at Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art, 7 Feb–20 Apr 2014.