Genelec sound lifts Pavilion of Finland at International Exhibition La Biennale di Venezia
Known for alternating year-on-year between architecture and art, La Biennale di Venezia transforms Venice into a global stage for expressive creativity and inspiration, attracting more than 600,000 visitors annually. First established in 1895, the International Art Exhibition now marks its 61st edition in 2026.
The Aalto Pavilion of Finland, situated in Biennale’s central Giardini Park, celebrates its 70th anniversary this year. Designed by renowned Finnish architects Alvar and Elissa Aalto in 1956 – at the initiative of art patron and fellow Finn Maire Gullichsen – the pavilion is considered a Finnish cultural gem. The unusual wedge-shaped building was originally created as a lightly constructed set of parts in Finland before shipping to Venice for assembly, where it has stood ever since.
Pavilion of Finland at the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia.
To ensure an exceptional exhibition in 2026, Pavilion of Finland commissioner Frame Contemporary Art Finland has enlisted Audiovisual Artist Jenna Sutela and Curator Stefanie Hessler. In her Aeolian Suite exhibition, Sutela has woven together a stimulating immersive 'windscape' that moves across the senses, mirroring the drama, unpredictability and ungovernability of wind. Her creative sonic tapestry – crafted from meteorological data, wind instruments and non-traditional musical instruments (like clotheslines) recorded in the winds of Venice, Helsinki and beyond – delivers a fascinating immersive experience for visitors of the pavilion.
Jenna Sutela.
To personify the atmospheric forces that shape Venice and the increasingly volatile global climate, Sutela has set a ring of sonic-kinetic sculptures representing the five Venetian winds, Tramontana, the two Boras, Scirocco, and Garbin, which play the central protagonists of her piece. Together, they channel the whispers and songs of the wind and invite us to consider our feelings about its sound and how we relate to our nature and culture. Ultimately, the work shines a light on questions about the state of our environment, from everyday concerns to existential threats.
Sutela comments, “We can only hear wind as it blows into, out of, or against things like trees, alleys, flutes, wings, or the Merihaansilta bridge in Helsinki. To listen to the wind – to let it take over the microphone, the voice, the recording – is a way of staying porous to the world, of recognising that intelligence moves in more directions than we can see.”
Genelec Smart IP loudspeakers are permanently available for the Pavilion of Finland.
Lifting the exhibition experience with rich, crystal-clear sound, Genelec Smart IP loudspeakers are now available to the Pavilion of Finland – and will remain so to power the audio of future installations. Combining premium sound quality with modern networked convenience and sustainable design, the Smart IP family of PoE loudspeakers and subwoofers receive audio, power and control via a single CAT cable, providing the ideal solution for integrators and venues seeking high-performance, scalable audio solutions.
For more information about the exhibition, visit frame-finland.fi/en/venice-biennale/venice-biennale-2026