Lusto
The Finnish Forest Museum
Lustontie 1
58450 PUNKAHARJU
Finland
Phone +358 15 345 100
Telefax +358 15 345 1050
lusto@lusto.fi
Exhibition on the pluralistic approach towards the forest in the Finnish Forest Museum Lusto opened on 29.4.2011.
The Forests of the Finns exhibition’s themes include, for example, the folkloristic approach towards the forest, the forest’s products and the recreational use of forests. For Finns the forest has always been – and it still is – a source of income and a treasure box filled with forest’s gifts. Besides, it has been and still is a place for recreation and meditation. In the old days man regarded forest as its own kingdom – it was totally apart and far away from man’s habitat and territory. The myths, beliefs, customs and stories related to the kingdom of forest are the source of the rich forest folklore in Finland.
The folklore’s relationship towards forests is portrayed in the Mythical Forest exhibition. The exhibition is opening trails deep into the forest with the help of fairies, gnomes and holy trees and leading the way into the fairytale forest of children and young adults. There is also a display of fairytale forest pictures painted by a Finnish pioneer of illustrations, Rudolf Koivu (1890-1946). Through these illustrations it is possible to see how the forest beliefs and forest creatures that the grownups once believed to be true and real have been transferred into children’s fairytales. The oral tradition of folklore is portrayed in two soundscapes. One is called “In a Grove-Like Forest” and the other “In a Trapping Trail”. Both of the soundscapes make good use of stories, riddles, incantations, spells and folk poetry. The forest relationship of the past times is magically opened to the modern viewer in the “Sacred Grove” installation by stage designer Kaisa Illukka. 
Many modern day designers use the forest of folklore as their source of inspiration. The jewelry and textiles on exhibition represent their views and interpretations of the ancient Finnish forest mythology. The famous Finnish designer brands and labels, such as Marimekko, Finlayson, Iittala and Kalevala Koru all make good use of folklore and forest in their products. Therefore, the forest of the folklore has become part of the modern Finnish culture.
The exhibition also introduces different types of forest activities, such as hiking, hunting, picking berries and enjoying the forest in a recreational sense. Since the ancient times, Finns have been wandering in forests and observing nature. Today, Finns are still eager to go into the forest as two thirds of the population take outdoor exercise once a week and the average journey from home door to the berry and mushroom picking sites in the near-by forest is four kilometers. Forest products have always been put to use, but at the time of ecology, organic products and local food have become more and more popular and therefore the interest towards natural products from the forest is also getting higher.
The Forests of the Finns exhibition is encouraging the visitor to think about one’s own attitude towards forest and the spiritual heritage linked with forests. In the future the exhibition will be permanent and it belongs to the basic exhibition in Lusto.
