New public artwork completed in Vaasanpuistikko Square

Drawing inspiration from classical sculpture parks, dream worlds and busy marketplaces, the artwork consists of five sculptures displayed on top of columns. The spiral patterns painted on the columns are an integral part of its mystical world. 

Teemu Salonen and Komugi Ando describe the individual figures as representing “everyday states of mind”. The figures have assembled “in the marketplace of life, a bustling place reminiscent of a medieval market". 

The figures in the character gallery bear a resemblance to animals such as cats, snakes and birds. Showing off in their midst are a diva-like giant flower and a laundry basket full of succulent fruity forms. The hybrid figures simultaneously express many emotions, even conflicting ones, from shyness and sadness to joy and excitement. The artists’ expressed goal was to create an easily relatable body of work that is open to many interpretations. The sculptures combine many materials such as bronze, concrete and fibreglass. 

"It’s wonderful that, through the power of art, we’ve been able to bring something new and invigorating to one of Helsinki’s legendary squares, transforming it into a cohesive space as well. The new artwork is both fresh and insightful - it's a feast for the eyes and a source of thought-provoking inspiration", says HAM's Museum Director Arja Miller.

The commission was made possible by Helsinki’s Percent for Art policy, which means that a portion of the city’s construction and renovation budget is set aside for public art. The work was commissioned by the City of Helsinki’s Urban Environment Division and curated by HAM Helsinki Art Museum, which acts as an art expert in the city’s Percent for Art projects and manages the City of Helsinki’s art collection, to which the new works are added. The collection managed by HAM includes more than 200 works commissioned through the Percent for Art principle.

Teemu Salonen is a designer and sculptor who weaves together innovative techniques and traditional craftsmanship with elements such as kitsch, humour and corporeality. Through his process he endows his myriad forms, materials and colours with a vivid exuberance, with each work inspiring the next. Many of his sculptures combine diverse materials such as clay, fibreglass, glass, plastic and light. Salonen has exhibited worldwide, and he is represented by Todd Merrill Studios in New York. 

Komugi Ando is a Japanese artist and collector of stories. She works across the mediums of ceramics, paper, sound and installation. Pairing together unlikely elements, she creates unique fantasy worlds that exist in a universe of their own. Her artistic interests include medieval churches, non-verbal communication, and identification that occurs in surprising situations.

Vaasanpuistikko Square's renovation will be celebrated on the Night of the Arts

The artwork will be unveiled at Vaasanpuistikko Square's opening ceremony on Thursday 15 August 2024 from 3 to 6 pm. Organised by Kurvin työryhmä, a group established to improve the area, the event begins at 3 pm with a speech by Deputy Mayor Anni Sinnemäki. HAM Helsinki Art Museum’s Director Arja Miller will unveil the sculptures. The artists will be present at the event.

The programme includes music, complimentary cake and coffee for the first 200 guests, street art, and a variety of fun activities. Additionally, you can meet local residents and representatives from the City of Helsinki, police, and local organisations and businesses.

The event is open to all.

Additional information

• Artwork: Head of Public Art Taru Tappola, HAM Helsinki Art Museum, tel. 050 526 1496, email taru.tappola@hamhelsinki.fi
• Vaasanpuistikko Square opening ceremony: Borough liason Gritten Naams, City of Helsinki, tel. 041 512 1734, email gritten.naams@hel.fi