UPEA 2017

Hämeenlinna, Finland,
2017

Completed work for UPEA edition 2017, Hämeenlinna, Finland. October 2017 Photograph: Guido van Helten — *Completed work for UPEA edition 2017*, Hämeenlinna, Finland. October 2017 **Photograph: Guido van Helten**
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Following my participation in the first edition of UPEA art 2016 I was invited back to make an intervention at the small city Hämeenlinna, Finland.

Words by Guido van Helten

Photographs by Antti Kemppainen

Project Details

Project

UPEA 2017

Location

Hämeenlinna, Finland

Commissioner

UPEA Finland, Australian Embassy of Sweden, Finland, Estonia and Latvia

This project was painted over the month of September where I connected with the young family friendly community in creating a piece that speaks of the areas demographic, its sentiment and the importance of education and supportive schooling in Finland. During this time I connected with Art Café Intola, Visamäki School and local parents during the process.

The work utilises the 56m (184ft) silo in composite with the smaller 42m (137ft) which formed the basis for the idea for utilising the mother and her child across the two spaces. The mural is located at the Kantola district of Hämeenlinna at a grain storage facility for the surrounding regions wheat production and It is now known as the tallest mural in Scandanavia.

Special thanks to local photographer Terho Aalto, Juuso, Joro and Suvi for participation in the project and to the support from Australian Embassy of Sweden, Finland, Estonia and Latvia