Contemporary documentation
We record the history of the future
The National Museum of Finland documents contemporary phenomena and social turning points, the actions of the state and its interaction with citizens, as well as cultural diversity in Finland.
Documentation is carried out using a variety of methods, such as interviews, photography, observation and object collection. The projects involve different cooperation partners, including a wide range of communities.
Contemporary phenomena as objects
Each year, a few objects are selected for the collections to reflect current phenomena and trends. At the same time, other methods, such as interviews, are used to record the phenomenon related to the object.
In recent years, this rapid-response method has been used to store utility items made from renewable materials that replace plastic, the NATO pen, civic activity materials, and a drone, among other things.
Documentation across decades
The National Museum of Finland has a long tradition of recording social turning points and everyday life. Exceptional circumstances were documented through object collections at times such as the last few weeks of the Civil War and its immediate aftermath in 1918. Dozens of ethnological surveys were conducted between 1956 and 1995 to record a wide range of topics, including rural life.
In recent years, the social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, civic activity, modern-day Karelianism and the many aspects of Finnishness have been recorded.
Additional information:
kokoelmatjatutkimus@kansallismuseo.fi