In search of the present: on rootlessness is an exploration of the now, an invitation to be present both in time and in place. The exhibition delves into art’s ability to ground us, even when the world we inhabit is in constant motion.

At its heart, the exhibition reflects on the lived experience of rootlessness and the search for belonging. It includes immersive, large-scale installations alongside more intimate works that ask what it means to look for a physical or emotional place in an era marked by uncertainty, mobility, and disconnection. The works approach these themes from multiple perspectives: some explore the restlessness of moving between places and identities or examine the societal conditions that produce rootlessness, while others reflect on belonging as a deeply human need and gently invite connection with the present moment – and with each other.

The artworks offer a setting for dwelling, listening, and feeling at the threshold of our own experience and the parallel worlds they open. The exhibition explores rootlessness not only as a sense of displacement, but also as a possibility – an opportunity to rethink what connection and home can mean. In doing so, it encourages us to root ourselves, even momentarily, in the shared experience of now.

The exhibition celebrates EMMA’s 20th anniversary year and features works by Marina Abramović, Haruka Kashima, Kimsooja, Tarik Kiswanson, Germaine Kruip, Ken Matsubara, Lydia Ourahmane, Helen Pashgian, Jani-Matti Salo, Danh Võ, WAUHAUS x Reality Research Centre, Ian Wilson and Maaria Wirkkala. Some of the works have been selected from the Saastamoinen Foundation Art Collection.

The title In search of the present refers to a collection of essays published in 1929 by Finnish author Olavi Paavolainen, in which he reflected on modern identity and experience in a rapidly changing world. Previous editions of the exhibition series were presented in 2016 and 2022.