Laterna Magica

What: Founded in 1989, Laterna Magica is one of Helsinki’s most distinctive cultural venues, combining an antiquarian bookshop with gallery spaces dedicated primarily to photography and visual arts. Over more than three decades, it has hosted hundreds of exhibitions and become a gathering place for artists, photographers, writers, and cultural enthusiasts.

The Whole Picture – Mikko Pekari in memoriam, a memorial exhibition honouring the life and legacy of Mikko Pekari, co-founder of Laterna Magica and a significant figure in Finnish photography and visual culture.

When: 27 May–13 June 2026. Mon-Fri 10-17, Sat 10-15

Where: Laterna Magica, Helsinki.

Who: The exhibition is dedicated to the memory of Mikko Pekari (1940–2025), photographer, curator, publisher, photography historian, and co-founder of Laterna Magica together with his brother Aapo Pekari.

How: Visit the gallery during opening hours and explore the exhibition, which reflects on Pekari’s lifelong contribution to photography, books, exhibitions, and Finnish cultural life.

Ticket price: Free admission.

Co-organisers: Laterna Magica.

Information: Laterna Magica Exhibition Page

Description

The Whole Picture – Mikko Pekari in memoriam is a memorial exhibition celebrating the life and work of Mikko Pekari, one of the founders of Laterna Magica and a central figure in Finland’s photographic and cultural landscape. Through his work as a curator, publisher, gallery founder, and advocate for photography, Pekari helped shape one of Helsinki’s most enduring meeting places for lovers of images and literature.

Together with his brother Aapo Pekari, Mikko founded Laterna Magica in 1989. Over the decades, the gallery became a renowned venue for photography and visual arts, hosting hundreds of exhibitions and fostering connections between artists, photographers, writers, and audiences.

The exhibition invites visitors to reflect on Pekari’s legacy and the broader cultural impact of his life's work. Through images, memories, and the history of Laterna Magica itself, the exhibition offers a portrait of a man whose passion for photography and books continued throughout his life.

Following along

The best way to experience the exhibition is to move through the gallery at a leisurely pace and take time to engage with the stories, photographs, and historical connections that shaped Mikko Pekari’s remarkable career.

A cultural legacy

Mikko Pekari’s influence extended beyond gallery work. Throughout his career he contributed to photography publications, exhibitions, historical projects, and cultural initiatives that helped preserve and promote photographic heritage in Finland.

Collaboration

The Whole Picture – Mikko Pekari in memoriam is presented by Laterna Magica as a tribute to one of its founders and to the lasting impact he had on Finnish photography, visual culture, and the artistic community.