stlukesguild
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A huge sculpture garden with over 500 sculptures was discovered in the village of Farikala, Finland after the death of the lone artist Veijo Rönkkönen.
The artist who was born in 1944 was known as a loner and few knew how he spent his time. After his death in 2010, more than 500 concrete sculptures were discovered of life-sized figures roaming around the forest in which he lived.
The huge outdoor gallery is now known as the Veijo Rönkkönen Sculpture Garden and it presents 50 years of artistic work. The site now attracts about 40,000 visitors a year, to the village of Farikala, just a few miles from the Russian border.
After the death of the artist, the Sculpture Garden and the humble house beside him were purchased, by a Finnish businessman, who bribed the Association for Culture and Rural Education in order to be allowed to restore the sculpture and open the site to the public.
Veijo Rönkkönen likely practiced yoga, as about 200 characters of self-portraits, were placed in yoga positions.
Rönkkönen employed real human teeth in a number of the figures.
In other figures, the artist employed sounds. In one scene happening between the trees, a man plays a cantela, a traditional instrument, while women dance around him. The sounds of music are played by speakers hidden inside the statues. Still, other figures have recorded voices.
The artist who was born in 1944 was known as a loner and few knew how he spent his time. After his death in 2010, more than 500 concrete sculptures were discovered of life-sized figures roaming around the forest in which he lived.
The huge outdoor gallery is now known as the Veijo Rönkkönen Sculpture Garden and it presents 50 years of artistic work. The site now attracts about 40,000 visitors a year, to the village of Farikala, just a few miles from the Russian border.
After the death of the artist, the Sculpture Garden and the humble house beside him were purchased, by a Finnish businessman, who bribed the Association for Culture and Rural Education in order to be allowed to restore the sculpture and open the site to the public.
Veijo Rönkkönen likely practiced yoga, as about 200 characters of self-portraits, were placed in yoga positions.
Rönkkönen employed real human teeth in a number of the figures.
In other figures, the artist employed sounds. In one scene happening between the trees, a man plays a cantela, a traditional instrument, while women dance around him. The sounds of music are played by speakers hidden inside the statues. Still, other figures have recorded voices.
I agree the use of human teeth is odd, almost macabre. Still, an amazing and touching display. I can only imagine the impact of seeing it in person.
