A new museum, opening today in Helsinki, offers a unique view into the history of Finland’s deaf community and its rich culture. The Deaf Museum’s exhibition space, located in the Valkea Talo building in Haaga, will offer visitors an immersive experience, with free entry for all.
The history of Finnish sign language takes a central place in exhibits using modern museum technology including interactive displays and multimedia. The centerpiece is a film about Carl Oscar Malm, a pivotal figure in Finland’s deaf community who founded the country’s first school for the deaf in the mid-1800s.
The film was produced in collaboration with sign language production company Ursa Minor, and many of the exhibition’s features were created by sign language professionals, including illustrator Olga Green, who contributed artwork for the museum’s public spaces.
Another central themes is the rich cultural history of the deaf community. Exhibits explore a century of deaf art and performance, from early 20th-century sign language choirs to modern-day sign language rap. The museum also delves into the community’s history in education, work, family life, and social activities for a comprehensive picture of deaf life in Finland.
The museum also explores the deaf community’s long fight for equality. As a linguistic and cultural minority, deaf Finns have had to battle for their rights, often facing significant challenges. For nearly a century, sign language was suppressed in deaf education in Finland, leading to widespread violations of human rights.
Image: at the museum, the past and present communicate in sign language
