ATOM TOYS STUDIOS PRESENTS
NON-ESSENTIAL, AN ART TOY EXHIBITION BY ATOM TOYS IN HELSINKI
Are art, toys, and play really non-essential? Explore the stories, ideas, and artists behind the art toy movement — one night only, in Helsinki.
Thu 20 August· 18:00–21:00
Luckan Helsingfors, Helsink
Free Entry
The Concept
We live in a world that constantly reminds us what is important: work, productivity, efficiency, growth — the things that keep life moving.
This exhibition is about something else. The things we often place to the side the hobbies, collections, toys, art, imagination, and play. The things we are told are non-essential.
Perhaps you will discover something that reminds you of yourself. And perhaps by the end, you may find yourself questioning whether these things were ever non-essential at all.
Art. Play. Music. Connection. Non-essential, perhaps. Human, undoubtedly.
MEET THE ARTISTS
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![A man with medium-length dark hair wearing glasses, a black jacket, and a white shirt standing against a light gray wall.]()
Nigel Goh
Multidisciplinary Art Toys
Singapore
Co-founder of Atom Toys. His work is guided by a single idea the void, and the small joys we reach for to fill it. Each series explores a different way that pursuit takes shape.
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![Young woman with long brown hair, wearing a white embroidered dress with blue pattern, standing outdoors in a wooded area with green foliage and rocks in the background.]()
Mainu Yinoot
Sculpture - Paper Clay
Paraguay
Builds a real, physical connection between people and the endangered species she sculpts, blending strange and playful textures that invite closer interaction with the work.
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![A man with short dark hair wearing a red sports jacket with yellow accents and large over-ear headphones sitting in front of a computer with music production software open.]()
Martín Acuña
Sound Art / Composition
Paraguay
Shapes audio textures through hardware, synthesis, and effects, building soundscapes that move alongside the visual work in the room rather than sitting behind it.
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![A man with blonde hair and tattoos on his neck looking to the side, wearing a dark suit, with the sunlight illuminating his face, standing outdoors during sunset.]()
Elias Erävalo
Graffiti / Illustration
Finland
A path through oil painting, drums, and graffiti eventually led to his main passion becoming his profession, carrying the same restless energy from the street into every piece.
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![A woman wearing sunglasses and a light pink denim jacket, with wind-blown hair, smiling at the camera, against a clear blue sky.]()
Rock Candy (Rck Cnd)
Mixed-Media Sculpture
Finland
Otherworldly landscapes and organic forms, mostly in wood quiet, expansive, slightly alien, like something found rather than made.
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![Portrait of a man wearing glasses, a beige t-shirt, and a blue denim jacket, standing against a white wall with blurred text in the background.]()
Yoshihito Suzuki
Sculpture
Barcelona · b. Tokyo, 1987
Builds idols from found objects lately, empty cans exploring emptiness and what society feels it has lost, and what might still be worth rebuilding from it.
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Alex Markwith
Abstract Painting / Collage
New York
Skulls and dissolving chessboards address power, mortality, and transformation recurring motifs shown in over 60 exhibitions worldwide, from New York to here.
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Evelyn Virteve
Sculptural Construction
Helsinki
Moves fluidly between welded steel, shaped wood, and weightless pixels bringing material to life through a practice that refuses to settle on one medium.
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![Young woman with pink hair styled in braids and a ponytail, decorated with hair clips, head jewelry, and face stickers. She wears black star earrings and multiple silver chains, against a pink background.]()
Liisa Tuulikki
Ceramics
Helsinki
Creator of BUNBUN — a curious, mischievous bunny living somewhere between fine art, collectibles, and designer toys, at home in Helsinki and occasionally Paris.
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![Shotgun Karaoke artist portrait, wearing black sunglasses, a black cap and oversized black T-shirt with a crossbody bag outdoors.]()
Shotgun Karaoke
Art Toy
Helsinki
Toys and collectibles inspired by music, action figures, graffiti, and kaiju built with a hands-on, DIY spirit that's "a guarantee of dopeness."
On The Night
WHAT TO EXPECT
Art Toy Exhibition
A diverse collection of artworks spanning art toys, sculpture, painting, sound, and street art.
Try Screen Printing
Make your own keepsake, and experience the DIY spirit that shaped the art toy movement.
Free Exhibition Zine
A complimentary zine exploring the movement, the artists, and the stories behind the works. Collect a sticker from each artist to fill the pages as you go. While supplies last.
Music by DJ Jope
A curated soundtrack running throughout the exhibition.
Hold Onto Your Joy
An interactive mirror installation for reflection and a photo moment.
Sweet Treats
Complimentary desserts by Matcha Life, while supplies last
PARTNERS
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Luckan
Luckan provides the home for NON-ESSENTIAL, opening their space to host the art toy exhibition in the heart of Helsinki. Their support gives the artists, artworks and community a place to come together for one evening of creativity, play and connection.
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![Interior of Amos Café in Helsinki with patterned seating, houseplants and a round café sign.]()
Amos Cafe
Description goes hereAmos Cafe is home to the Fun Zone at NON-ESSENTIAL, a lively space where visitors can get hands-on with screen printing, enjoy music by DJ Jope, take a photo with the selfie mirror art installation, and browse Atom Toys merchandise. A place to make something, hang out and enjoy the more playful side of the evening.
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![Row of iced matcha drinks prepared by Matcha Life on a wooden counter.]()
Matcha Life
Matcha Life brings a moment of calm to NON-ESSENTIAL with a dedicated Zen Zone, a quiet atmospheric space where visitors can sit, slow down and enjoy a complimentary dessert. Two options will be available, including a vegan dessert and a matcha dessert. A small pause from the noise, and a little moment of joy in the middle of the evening.
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![Portrait of a male artist seated on a sticker-covered staircase surrounded by colourful street art.]()
DJ Jope
Helsinki-based DJ, party organizer and avid record collector Jope brings the soundtrack to NON-ESSENTIAL. Known for moving between outsider house, UK sounds and whatever else feels right in the moment, his sets are open-minded, energetic and hard to pin down. Catch him playing throughout the evening in the Fun Zone at Amos Cafe.
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![Maker & Shaper team standing behind their exhibition booth with handmade art and design pieces.]()
Maker & Shaper
Maker & Shaper helped bring Joy Boy to a whole new scale for NON-ESSENTIAL, creating a one-metre-tall version of the character for the exhibition. Their craftsmanship turned one of Atom Toys’ most familiar figures into a larger-than-life piece visitors can experience in person.
