Juliana Hyrri Exhibition — 6 November to 18 December 2026
Inauguration: Thursday, 5 November, 6–8 pm, in the presence of the artist
As part of Sarjakuva 2026, the Year of Finnish Comics in France
Juliana Hyrri, born in 1989, is an award-winning visual artist, illustrator and graphic novelist based in Helsinki. Growing up between Estonia’s Russian-speaking culture and Finland, Juliana Hyrri brings her experience of living between two cultural worlds to her three graphic novels, which explore childhood, the search for belonging, school violence and the fear of rejection.
“Because of my bilingualism, it feels as though I have faced a double linguistic barrier all my life, constantly having to chase after words and thoughts until I become frustrated. Writing and storytelling through art have given my thoughts and their development the time and space they need. Artistic work has opened up a different path for me, one that may be better suited to me, for expressing things that my words and communication skills alone would not be enough to convey.” — Juliana Hyrri
The exhibition features original artwork from Juliana Hyrri’s third graphic novel, Darlings, alongside sketches and other material documenting the creative process, finished pages from the book and various versions of the work. Conceived as a companion to the book, the exhibition offers a behind-the-scenes look at its creation, revealing the narrative and visual thinking behind the story.
Based on real events, Darlings tells a story of childhood in a world where violence is often subtle and difficult to recognise. Its protagonist is a solitary, dreamy girl marked by a red pom-pom—a visual symbol that follows this otherwise unnamed character across several years.
Alongside original pages created in gouache and mixed media, the exhibition includes sketches, fragments of the story and narrative surprises. Rather than following the book page by page, the installation brings different versions and stages of the work into dialogue with one another.
Juliana Hyrri’s work has been exhibited extensively in Finland and abroad. She has also received grants and illustration commissions from institutions including Helsingin Sanomat, the Kone Foundation, the Finnish Cultural Foundation, the Arts Promotion Centre Finland and the Finnish National Agency for Education. In 2023, Juliana Hyrri received the Finnish State Award for Comic Art. The French translation of Darlings, translated by Kirsi Kinnunen, will soon be published by Éditions Même pas mal.
SAVE THE DATES!
30 October – 4 November
Juliana Hyrri’s graphic universe comes to life on the large wall of Café Maa! The artist will paint a mural during Café Maa’s opening hours, from 11am to 6pm.
Thursday, 5 November
Inauguration in the presence of the artist, 6–8pm. Free admission!
Sarjakuva 2026: Programme at Institut finlandais
Pop-up Comic Bookshop: La Regyliäär
6 November – 18 December
A pop-up comic bookshop will be open throughout the Darlings exhibition. In collaboration with La Régulière, a bookshop in Paris’s 18th arrondissement, which will take over Institut finlandais’ gallery-boutique for the occasion, the pop-up will offer a wide selection of books translated into French, showcasing the richness and diversity of Finnish comics, graphic novels and illustrated books.
Concert: Žižek Says!
Thursday, 12 November at 8pm
An exceptional live drawing concert at Institut finlandais: award-winning comics artist Ville Ranta will draw the concert live before the audience. The dynamic duo of accordionist Niko Kumpuvaara and saxophonist-singer Joonatan Rautiola creates surreal utopias blending Finnish, French and Ukrainian musical influences.
Family screening: Moomins And The Winter Wonderland
Saturday, 12 December
A film by Jakub Wroński and Ira Carpelan for families and children aged 3 and up. Based on the books by Tove Jansson, creator of the Moomins, whose rich and profound artistic universe continues to captivate new generations in Finland and around the world.
The exhibition Darlings, dedicated to the comics of Juliana Hyrri, is presented as part of Sarjakuva 2026, the year of Finnish comics in France. Throughout 2026, the richness and diversity of contemporary Finnish comics are celebrated through a nationwide programme, fostering encounters between artists and audiences and encouraging cultural exchange between France and Finland.
Photo © Juliana Hyrri