Pienten Helsinki
My Museum Friend and I: Exhibition tip to Päivälehden Museum – The Tiitiäisen aika exhibition built around Kirsi Kunnas's poems.
On 20.5.2022, Päivälehden Museum opened Tiitiäisen aika – an exhibition for children built around the beloved poems and children's books by poet and children's author Kirsi Kunnas, where visitors adventure through the magical worlds of Kunnas's poems and book illustrations.
interesting shapes and of course Kirsi Kunnas's poems and nursery rhymes.
The first impression upon entering Päivälehden Museum is one of beautiful colors, interesting characters and shapes, telephone receiver handsets hanging from the ceiling, and a winding path through the exhibition. My museum friend immediately asked in the foyer what kind of magical world this was. And indeed, we found ourselves in the middle of the world of Tiitiäinen, Lillukka Lilli, Ovela Olli, Cat Krumeluun, Forest Giant, Ville, and Valli and dozens of other characters familiar from Kirsi Kunnas's nursery rhymes and poems. The exhibition had just opened to the public just before our visit, and my companion had the honor of being among the first child visitors to the Tiitiäisen aika exhibition.
It takes a moment to grasp the exhibition's concept, and at first we simply wander around reading the poems, but soon a little train chugging along the rails through the exhibition space captures the young visitor's attention and the search begins for fairy tale characters projected on screens, jumping into the world of the story. After that, the small exhibition visitor dares to peer into the Forest Giant's wide-open mouth and crawl inside a tree trunk where potatoes bubble and hiss in a cauldron. Then we peek behind a secret door and adventure along the path toward a smiling moon and a rocket flying across the wall.
The rhyme cube word puzzle turns out to be a bit challenging to solve this time, so we decide that on future evenings we'll dig Kunnas's works out of the closet as bedtime stories and come back here again. In the middle of the fairy tale adventure, there's a moment of calm listening to Kirsi Kunnas's own recordings of the rhymes through headphones, but soon we're off again when the music coming from the hanging telephone receiver and enamel mug headphones gets everyone dancing. Little bells jingle on the back wall and finding secret sock gnomes gives my museum friend new energy.
The Tiitiäisen aika exhibition space is not very large, just like the other children's themed exhibitions at Päivälehden Museum, but it's just right for a quick visit with small and slightly older children. The space is calm this year and partially dark, so for some visitors it might feel a bit spooky at first. The Forest Giant on the back wall was also scary, but turned out to be a completely harmless character. When you focus on Kunnas's cheerful characters, which can be seen by the dozens in the exhibition, the experience is guaranteed to be pleasant. I know we'll be back here again because the threshold for popping in is low and you can spend just a moment or marvel at the magical world for longer.
This interactive exhibition for the whole family is also great for visiting with very small children: during quiet weekday hours, even the tiniest exhibition visitor will enjoy looking at the illustrations that are everywhere and lounging on a big bean bag chair listening to poems. The Tiitiäisen aika exhibition is on display at Päivälehden Museum from 20.5.-30.10.2022 and admission is free.
at Päivälehden Museum until the end of October 2022.
It's also worth visiting the other exhibitions at Päivälehden Museum and the printing cellar downstairs if you have time and your museum companion has the energy to explore the items more extensively. Downstairs there is also a reading corner for a quick break.
The Tiitiäisen aika exhibition created by artist Alexander Reichstein is an experience for children and adults alike; the timeless poems by Kunnas bring childhood memories back for parents too. Above all, the Tiitiäisen aika exhibition is a tribute to the wonderful Kirsi Kunnas, who passed away in November 2021.
At least not tonight do we need to think about what bedtime story to read. Tiitiäisen's fairy tale tree and Hankiemon's happy box, received as baby gifts back in the day, get back on the reading list.
Päivälehden Museum is located just a few blocks from Esplanade Park, so it's worth stopping by on a city trip, on a rainy day or to escape the heat (the museum has air conditioning!). Near the museum you'll find Rikhardinkatu Library and the library's lovely summer patio (open only in summer months). The Päivälehden Museum also has what's most important when thinking about little ones' museum visits: a functional and clean children's room connected to an accessible restroom!
Päivälehden Museum
Ludviginkatu 2-4, Helsinki
www.paivalehdenmuseo.fi
Tiitiäisen aika exhibition is on display 20.5.-30.10.2022
Always free admission!
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