OODI Y:LLE / ODE TO Y
2024
On its 35th anniversary, Y-Säätiö Foundation commissioned us to create a public artwork involving its residents. The foundation is the largest nationwide non-profit landlord in Finland and an international expert in fighting homelessness. Y-Säätiö promotes social justice by offering affordable rental apartments.
Ode to Y consists of five mosaic-covered tables – there are two of each of them – as well as an interactive mobile application. The physical tables were donated to two Y homes (Taipaletalo and Rukkila housing community) and three M2 homes. The tables contain a total of approximately 17,400 mosaic pieces. The figure corresponds to the number of Y-Säätiö rental apartments in 2020, when we started planning the work.
Anyone can download the free mobile app that is part of the work. It allows you to dig deeper into the mosaic: during 2023 we set up a mobile studio in the properties included in the project, and invited residents to add content to the mosaic tiles. By clicking the digital mosaic tiles of the Art Table, you’ll find art made by the residents. To the Table Instrumentwe recorded sounds produced by the residents. The mosaic of the Game Table archives residents’ memories from playing games around a table. The Common Table gathers residents’ insights and learnings about coexistence in an apartment building. The Ode to Y table, on the other hand, contains the history of the Y Foundation as told by its employees. The organization’s journey from an idea born at the kitchen table to a globally significant homelessness activist greatly inspired us.
When Juha Kaakinen first contacted us, he emphasized the values of the foundation, especially community spirit. So many communal and meaningful moments are experienced right around the table! Our work invites people to the table, but also creates connections through the stories, pictures, memories and poems hidden in the digital mosaic.
You can see the physical tables in the yards of Taipaletalo (Porvoo), Rukkilan asumisyhteisö (Helsinki), Lyyrapyrstö 2(Tampere) and Puunhaltijankuja (Vantaa).
The project was funded by Y-Foundation. It was co-production of Y-Foundation and Firma Oy / Studio Kalleinen. The work was made possible due to AVEK’s Mediarata support for Firma Oy.
KESKUSTELUPUISTO / CONVERSATION PARK
2018 –
A unique artistic experiment of transforming an abandoned plot of land into a public park in the Finnish town of Rauma. In 2019 thirty residents between the ages of 6 and 89 became players in a two-year-long “Public Space Game”. Their mission was to turn their 30 individual visions into one urban park. The playful process, designed and moderated by Tellervo and Oliver, progressed through 6 phases aka 6 game moves. The park was opened in September 2020.
The process has involved countless discussions and negotiations among the players. As a result, the City of Rauma has now a unique and personal park which reflects both the needs of individuals and their common voice.
The park is introduced by the participants in a mobile app published in conjunction with the opening of the park. Download the free app from your play store with a search word Keskustelupuisto.
The project was collaboration with Lönnström Art Museum: It was selected as a Lönnström Art Museum project in 2017.
The project web site: http://keskustelupuisto.fi