Helsinki's Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art is named after a medical term for a crossing point of optic nerves. It lives up to this unusual moniker with an amazingly diverse collection of art that draws from all aspects of Finnish society, finding commonality in form and beauty. The museum houses the contemporary collection of the Finnish National Gallery, with over 9,000 pieces of art representing the cutting edge of beauty and design in this Scandinavian style capital. The permanent collection is a veritable who's who of 20th and 21st century Finnish art, with work from masters such as Markus Heikkerö and Elina Hakaniemi. The building itself is a modern art masterpiece. Designed by American architect Steven Holl, it resembles a curved metallic wave washing over downtown Helsinki, and while it caused quite a stir when it was unveiled in 1998, it's now the pride of the city. The museum is just minutes from the Hotel Kämp, Helsinki, a member of Starwood's Luxury Collection.
[image via floornature.de]
