2011 leaves permanent marks on the cityscape

Turku's year as the European Capital of Culture is coming to an end. Many events were unique, but several environmental artworks have changed the urban environment permanently.

The latest artwork of the Capital of Culture year designed for a public space was unveiled on Saturday 18 December as part of the Thank You weekend. Mater marium by artist Tarja Ervasti highlights the mouth of the River Aura in a novel fashion, bringing the 50-year-old crane back to life.

Clay in the City and BOX have turned something ugly into something beautiful during the year. With photographs and drawings, Kati Immonen and Minna Maija Lappalainen have created colourful surfaces for 25 electricity cabinets around the city.

Correspondingly, using a ceramics pattern Pekka Paikkari turned a ventilation building into the Igloo in the Puutori Square, Karin Widnäs turned a water treatment station into the colourful Kimono and the electricity distribution facility in Kupittaa Park is now the Temple by Kim Simonsson.

Delightful surprises on the banks of River Aura

Autumn drove away Flux Aura’s giant eider ducks and sea frills from the river as well as the motive ships from the trees, but you can still encounter artistic surprises on the river bank.

Timo Takala’s small-scale yet delightful Just a Moment stops you around Linnankatu 24. People’s memories and deeds have been engraved into the rock surfaces of the area, such as “Suutelin Maijaa” (I kissed Maija).

Equally surprising, though not small-scale, is the hugely popular Daisy created by Jani Rättyä and Antti Stöckell near the Swan of Finland. This reminiscence of summer is on a trial basis near Forum Marinum until next autumn, then the Museum Centre of Turku will decide whether or not to buy it.

Correspondingly, the colourful sight in the City Library’s courtyard is the metal calf Sweet Yellou Melon created by Miina Äkkijyrkkä.

Exercise amidst art

The Hide-and-Seek route of the Central Park of Culture and Exercise is an artwork designed by Oona Tikanoja. There are 30 small sculptures made by children along the route, cheering up pedestrians on street railings and various other places.

The Doghouse and Bone by Sakari Peltola and Some Techno Flowers by Eero Merimaa are also encouraging people to exercise.
In addition, the Dream Park will slowly emerge in the middle court of the Sports Park. Children and seniors, among others, have participated in its design process.

In the city centre, the illuminated arcs of Pudelma in the City Hall Park are bringing light to the darkness. It was created by students of architecture from the Columbia University in New York and Oulu University in co-operation with the City of Turku.

Due to the ample positive feedback, this structure that was originally created as temporary will be maintained as part of the cityscape for as long as the technical life of the building allows.

In addition to the artworks seen in the cityscape, all compositions, paintings, books and rugs created for the 2011 programme will be permanent reminders of Turku’s European Capital of Culture year.