GUARDIANS 2022
Björkenheim Bridge, Seinäjoki
Seinäjoki City Collections
Two sculptures depicting owls are placed atop the light poles at both ends of the new Björkenheim Bridge spanning the Seinäjoki River. The owl sculptures gaze toward the old bridge, which is used for pedestrian traffic. From the owls' eyes, two circular beams of light reflect onto the surface of the pedestrian pathway during dark hours. The internal light of the sculptures highlights their decorative perforated surfaces.
Size of sculptures: approximately 120 x 40 x 40 cm
Materials: cast aluminum, powder coating, automotive paints, gobo projectors, LED strip lights
Commissioner: Seinäjoki Art Hall, Sanna Karimäki-Nuutinen
Curator: Seinäjoki Art Hall, Maya Syrjälä
Casting Works: Sinisalo Art Foundry, Tomi Sinisalo
Metalwork: Selki Asema, Jukka Merta
Painting: Taximo oy, Lassi Riissanen and Riikka Hyvönen
Lighting Design: Ari Tiilikainen, Lite Designs
Installation and Electrical Work: Seiverkot oy
The large head and forward-facing eyes of the owl give it a human-like quality. The owl has been associated with various beliefs and symbolic meanings. Traditionally, it has been seen as a bird of wisdom in many cultures. The owl is the symbol of Pallas Athena, the Greek goddess of knowledge, wisdom, and warfare. Due to its keen night vision, the owl is believed to see things that others cannot. In Christian symbolism, the owl is seen as a bringer of light into darkness. In Japan, the owl is considered a divine figure. In Finnish folklore, owls have been seen as omens of weather changes, bearers of bad news, birds of the thunder god, or even symbols of foolishness.
The sculptures are based on a round-shaped owl reminiscent of the tawny owl and a horned owl. The shape of the owls has been simplified in the sculptures. The coloring of the owl sculptures is imaginative, with hues that reference national romanticism and ornamentation. The overall color scheme is light, but features colors not typically found in real owls.
The artwork, like the owl, comes alive in the dark. The lights placed within the sculptures cast beams onto the street surface, illuminating the path across the bridge. The holes in the sculptures glow in the darkness, making them shimmer and appear otherworldly at night. The owls watch over, guard, and protect those crossing the bridge with their illuminating gaze. They can be seen as guardians, similar to those in traditional moral fables, watching over those who traverse the bridge. The owl acts as a bringer of light and protector, as if the roles of humans and nature have been reversed.