History

This is how Haihatus was born

At the end of 90's decided visual artists Merja Metsänen ja Raimo Auvinen to arrage an exhibition of the artworks in the backyards of people all over the finish contryside. Folk art exhibition was named Haihatus. It means in english something like vanity, nonsense, day-dream or moonshine. Art is often considered like that; suspecting idle but reviving.

Because the first exhibition Haihatus 2000 was a succes, it became an annual summer tradition. In future the exhibition
did not limit only to art made by folk artists, but also the
professional ones.

The first two Haihatus exhibitions were situated in a former school-house in municipality of Hartola. Since 2002 Haihatus has been in a former local nursing home of the municipality of Joutsa. In the course of years the occupation of Haihatus has been widen in the field of arts and culture.

Haihatus is a house of living art.

Picture:
Parliament of Blockheads