Serlachius publishes 152-page bilingual book on Anish Kapoor’s Mänttä sculpture "Edeltäjä"

A new exhibition publication documents the making of Anish Kapoor’s monumental sculpture "Edeltäjä", created for the Mänttä exhibition that opened in summer 2026. It presents the project’s production alongside recent work by the artist.

Published by Serlachius and Parvs in 2026, the bilingual English-Finnish volume compiles essays and commentary on Kapoor’s practice. Contributors include Rod Mengham and emeritus professor Esko Valtaoja. The book opens with an introduction by museum director Pauli Sivonen and features an interview by curator and critic Timo Valjakka.

The text places the Mänttä commission in the context of Kapoor’s long career. Born in Bombay (now Mumbai) and trained in London, he is known for early monochrome pigment sculptures and later stone and painted works that have been acquired by major collections worldwide.

At its centre is the genesis of "Edeltäjä", a work made specifically for the museum’s summer 2026 exhibition in Mänttä.

Images for media are available to download from the museum’s website. Rather than acting as promotional material, the volume provides visual and critical documentation for readers and researchers of the sculpture’s conception and production.

The release follows the summer show that drew large visitor numbers to the museum and sparked renewed discussion about regional museum capacity the summer Kapoor blockbuster. It also complements other Serlachius titles this year tracing the collection and the institution’s history the Serlachius family book.