Kalasatama Art & Events
Kalasatama’s artworks and cultural events add their own unique touch to the area. Come explore the art and events Kalasatama has to offer, and enjoy the area’s diverse culture!
Kalasatama’s fascinating history and diverse atmosphere inspire new events and works of art that thousands of people come to admire every year. The cultural projects that enrich the area are an integral part of the spirit of Kalasatama.
Culture, art, and events! Kalasatama offers a wide range of things to see and experience. During the construction phase of this developing area, the Kalasatama Environmental Project was launched with the goal of improving residents’ quality of life, and now works of art that reinforce the area’s story and build its identity delight visitors throughout Kalasatama. Diverse event venues offer everything from large festivals to jazz picnics and multimedia installations.
Kalasatama also provides the perfect setting for events such as traditional art exhibitions or even breakdancing competitions. Among the event venues, Suvilahti, the REDI shopping center, and Teurastamo offer a maritime, industrial, and community-oriented atmosphere for developing a wide variety of events.
Of course, the area is constantly alive, and in addition to permanent art installations, the streetscape is adorned with rotating exhibits. In addition to the outdoor works of art that everyone can admire, you might also catch a glimpse of indoor art through windows here and there.
Early One Morning, Eternity Sculpture, Jacob Dahlgren – Permanent Installation
Swedish artist Jacob Dahlgren’s steel sculpture Early One Morning, Eternity Sculpture was completed in 2019 at Capellanaukio 1. According to the artist, the work is like a game in which a continuous line is drawn without lifting the pen from the paper.
Dahlgren aims to create a space in the city that offers an opportunity, for example, to take a breather or have a chat. People can sit on the lower levels, although climbing is prohibited. With a diameter of ten meters and a height of about four meters, the artwork can indeed be considered one of Kalasatama’s gathering spots.
A Line Drawn in Water, Timo Heino – Permanent Installation
At the top of the work A Line Drawn in Water is a charcoal-black canoe, from which a steel rod curves down toward the ground. The artwork was completed in the spring of 2014 and stands 12 meters tall on Capellan Park Road.
Artist Timo Heino designed the work specifically for Kalasatama, taking into account both the local residential community and the area’s maritime character. The canoe’s shape references a vessel used as far back as prehistoric times, combining modern high-tech materials with the era of aviation.
Kuukkeli, Villu Jaanisoo – Permanent Installation
At nearly six meters tall, the colorful Kuukkeli is hard to miss. Created by Villu Jaanisoo in 2016, the sculpture’s exterior is made of Durat recycled plastic, with a total of approximately 4,000 kilograms used in the work. The Siberian jay has long been regarded as a friend and protector of those who spend time in the forest.
Instuin Sculptures, Marjukka Korhonen – Permanent Installation
Marjukka Korhonen’s 14-part installation consists of three different groups of chairs, whose origins lie in chair designs from 20th-century working-class homes in the area. The chairs bring the intimate atmosphere of home into an open public space. Unlike many other works of art, Seating Sculptures are intended not only to be viewed, but also to be used.
Nereidi, HC Berg – Permanent Installation
At the southern end of Kalasatama, near the entrance to the REDI shopping center, a seven-meter-tall Nereidi figure rises into the sky; it is made of painted aluminum sheets mounted on a concrete base. Through this work, artist HC Berg aims to convey the atmosphere and sensation of the hectic pace of our times.
Flamigos, Pasi Rauhala – Temporary Installation
Flamingos and friends (amigos in Spanish) come together in a work created by Pasi Rauhala in 2019, a permanent part of which is located under the Kulosaari Bridge. The work was inspired by the flamingos that once lived at Korkeasaari, and the permanent section of the artwork under the bridge mimics the movement of flamingos using steel elements and programmed lights.
Pasi Rauhala: Flamigos, 2019.
© Photo: Maija Toivanen / HAM Helsinki Art Museum
The Invented Past, Raimo Saarinen – Temporary Installation
In addition to permanent installations, Kalasatama features rotating exhibits, such as Raimo Saarinen’s The Invented Past. The work was completed in June 2020 and was also on display during the summer of 2021 at Englantilaisaukio, next to the REDI shopping center.
Raimo Saarinen: The Invented Past, 2020.
© Photo: Sonja Hyytiäinen / HAM Helsinki Art Museum
City Events in the Area
The History of the Kalasatama Area
There is no present without history. One of the greatest sources of inspiration for art in Kalasatama is the area’s colorful, diverse past, full of events and upheavals.
