The Secret Capital of EGS

The Secret Capital of EGS is a joint project by Amos Rex and EGS that transforms Helsinki into an alternative exhibition and an experimental map, experienced by walking along a pre-marked route.

The Secret Capital of EGS is a multiform artwork unfolding from Amos Rex into the urban space, which can be walked and experienced in autumn 2026. The work explores how we see and experience the city: what layers and memories it conceals, which traces have been erased, and to whom the city’s narrative truly belongs.

In the artwork, Helsinki is revealed as the forgotten and lost capital of the fictional state known as the Republic of EGS. From the city’s layers emerge lost memories, subcultures, rumors and legends, real historical events and figures, as well as surprising works of art. The city functions both as a stage and as a map, where the real and the imagined intertwine.

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EGS Walks

A spot must be reserved in advance for the tours. Reservations will open later in the summer of 2026.

Saturday, 29 August, 2 – 3 pm

Monday, 31 August, 5.30 – 6.30 pm

Wednesday, 2 September, 5.30 – 6.30 pm

Friday, 4 September, 5.30 – 6.30 pm

Saturday, 5 September, 2 – 3 pm

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EGS

EGS (b. 1974) is a contemporary Finnish artist whose practice is rooted in graffiti. He began his graffiti career over 30 years ago by writing the letters “EGS” across Helsinki and Europe. These three letters have since become the foundation of his work, exploring themes like identity, history, place, and movement. EGS works across drawing, painting, glass sculpture, and installation, with recurring interests in cartography, exploration, and social history. His practice translates the language of graffiti into institutional contexts, maintaining its spontaneity and adventurous approach while expanding its material and conceptual scope. Repetition, travel, mapping, and the abstraction of language are central to his work. 

In 2020, EGS presented a solo exhibition at the Finnish Glass Museum, highlighting his experimental use of glass as a sculptural medium. He has collaborated with glass studios in Finland and Murano, Italy, and continues to explore glass as both material and metaphor. His work has been presented in solo exhibitions at museums, including the Didrichsen Art Museum (2024), Serlachius Museum (2022), and Kunsthalle Helsinki (2018), as well as in international galleries such as Urban Spree Galerie (Berlin), Albert Contemporary (Odense), and Spazio C21 (Reggio Emilia). 

EGS has participated in major international exhibitions and art fairs, including the Helsinki Biennial, ARCO Madrid, Irish Design Week, Art Rotterdam, Enter Art Fair, and KIAF Seoul. His works are held in prominent public and private collections, including the Finnish National Gallery, Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art, Helsinki Art Museum, Serlachius Museum, and Didrichsen Art Museum. His practice has been documented in numerous publications, including EGS – Writing Stories with Three Letters (2020) and Republic of EGS – Travel Guide (2024). 

Alongside his gallery and museum work, EGS continues to paint graffiti internationally. He has completed artist residencies in Paris and New York City and remains committed to working across public space, institutional settings, and material experimentation.