Superheroes – From Antiquity to Contemporary
The Superheroes – From Antiquity to Contemporary exhibition opening at Vapriikki on 29 May is a fast-paced and colourful journey through the history of heroic stories. It features ancient gods and modern heroes from movies and comics.
The exhibition explores the role models for superheroes in ancient myths and legends. Visitors can follow the evolution of superheroes both chronologically and thematically.
Superheroes are the heirs of ancient gods who defend the world and universal human values. Ancient myths have changed over time, and so has the appearance of heroes. Heracles has evolved into Superman, the Greek Amazon into Wonder Woman and Hermes into The Flash. But their mission – to guide new generations towards a better and fairer world – has remained unchanged.
The Superheroes exhibition tells the story of these superhuman characters: how they were inspired by the myths, poems and aesthetics of ancient cultures, which, combined with contemporary stories, have given birth to the superheroes we know today.
The initial impetus for the emergence of new heroes was the 1938 comic strip Superman. It opened up a whole new and wonderful universe where anything was possible, with heroes who had almost divine powers. Over the last hundred years or so, cartoonists and writers have created more and more wondrous worlds.
The exhibition includes six ancient sculptures from the collections of the National Museum of Rome, reflecting the influence of Greek and Roman myths on the creation of modern superheroes. The exhibition includes a wealth of superhero comics, hundreds of figurines and puppets. In addition to the Italian collection, the exhibition has borrowed material published in Finland by collectors.
