Aboa Vetus Ars Nova

Welcome to Aboa Vetus Ars Nova, an institution that stands as a profound architectural and conceptual paradox in the heart of Turku. As you stand in the courtyard of what appears to be a majestic, early twentieth-century palace,…

The physical act of entering Aboa Vetus is a masterfully choreographed descent into the subterranean past. As you leave the bright, elegant lobby of the Rettig Palace and begin your journey down the staircase, the environmental…

Navigating the suspended walkways over the Convent Quarter ruins, you are essentially flying over the remnants of medieval urban life. This specific area was a thriving nexus of commerce and daily habitation. …

Embedded within the sprawling landscape of the ruins are the exhibition cases that house the micro-history of Aboa Vetus: the archaeological artifacts. While the massive stone foundations tell the story of urban infrastructure…

The journey upward from the medieval gloom of Aboa Vetus to the modern luminosity of Ars Nova is an architectural and chronological ascent. The transition is managed via a grand, sweeping staircase that returns you to the…

Entering the Ars Nova galleries on the upper floors of the palace, you are immediately thrust into the vibrant, challenging world of contemporary art. The museum's curatorial focus is dynamic, encompassing both a significant…

Our final specific area of exploration is the exterior courtyard of the museum, a space that acts as the architectural and conceptual binding for the entire Aboa Vetus Ars Nova complex. Returning to the outside air, the sensory…

As we conclude our immersive journey through Aboa Vetus Ars Nova, we are left to grapple with the profound implications of this unique institution. We began by descending into the damp, shadowy earth to analyze the raw, skeletal…