The group exhibition PLAY presents, through the multidisciplinary lens of 17 international artists, play both as a source of joy and as a disruptive force, revealing moments of delight, resilience, rebellion, and connection. Together, the works form a visual journey into play as a deeply human form of expression and a wordless language.

The exhibition is curated by Jorven Viilik, Brand Director at Fotografiska Tallinn.

The artists featured in the group exhibition are Martin Parr, Cristina de Middel, Susan Meiselas, Jouko Lehtola, Bruce Davidson, Roger Ballen, Nina Katchadourian, Sage Sohier, Trent Parke, Christopher Herwig, Karolina Wojtas, Niccolo Rastrelli, Joosep Kivimäe, Mathias Väärsi, Pelle Cass, Deanna Dikeman, and Louis-Philippe Rondeau.
The exhibition’s sound design is by musician Erki Pärnoja.

In contemporary culture, play has long been seen as a distraction — a fleeting phase of childhood, even a taboo in adulthood. Yet beneath its lightness lies a timeless and empowering way of thinking that shapes our relationship with the world and our ways of connecting with others.

Today, play flourishes especially in digital realms, extending further into adulthood than ever before. At the same time, other forms of play — physical, face‑to‑face, and unscripted — are gradually disappearing. These forms, however, sustain trust and presence and remind us that what cannot be planned also has value.

The exhibition seeks to guide us back toward unstructured play and to open a space where visitors can explore whether play still exists in their lives — and in what form. It encourages viewers to imagine how play might return to their lives in unexpected ways.

PLAY is open throughout the year, 14 January – 31 December 2026, on the second floor of Kauppakortteli Pekuri.

The exhibition space and the Oulu2026 lobby are designed by PAVE Arkkitehdit. Partners include Genelec, Saas Instruments, and IP Heikkilä.
The exhibition is produced by Fotografiska Tallinn and the Oulu Cultural Foundation, which oversees Oulu2026 activities.

Fotografiska is a museum of photography, art, and culture founded in Stockholm in 2010. In addition to Stockholm, Fotografiska has locations in Tallinn, Berlin, and Shanghai. Fotografiska Tallinn opened in 2019 as the first venue outside Stockholm. Fotografiska creates dynamic and unique exhibitions to inspire new perspectives and spark meaningful conversations through photography and contemporary art.