Work of Art Turvapaikka osa 4 (Place of Refuge Part 4)

The work of art is located in a roundabout in Nikkilä, which makes it easily accessible for admirers. All the Nikkilä roundabouts are decorated with sculptures made by Pekka Paikkari.

Turvapaikka (Place of Refuge)

Four roundabouts as a part of the environment

Turvapaikka (Place of Refuge) is a series of sculptures located in four roundabouts in Nikkilä. The two first roundabouts are dominated by abstract figures representing white rabbits, and carrots, respectively.

The first phase of the sculpture series included the installation of some twenty white city rabbits in the roundabout near the Sipoo Municipal Hall Kuntala in 2010. The next roundabout down the hill was decorated with 15 orange, one metre-high carrots.

The butterflies were finished in 2017. The same roundabout has also potted plants equipped with lights. The Butterflies and the Potted Plants are a referral to the surrounding nature. Both butterflies and flowers have always been abundant here.

In 2020, the fourth roundabout in the area was finished with the work Sipoon sudet, representing wolves and completing the whole. The Wolves guard the incoming route to Nikkilä.

Art Amongst Traffic

Situated in roundabouts, the works of art have been tailored to meet the special requirements posed by traffic. They function also as guiding elements, distinguish the four roundabouts in the Nikkilä centre from each other.

As far as perception of traffic and traffic flows go, traffic control at the roundabouts was a key element when planning the works. They were not to decrease the visibility.

In addition to the figures, the Turvapaikka series also consists of green plants designed by the artist Mari Paikkari. The works of art have an undergrowth of multi-coloured stonecrop, which is easy to grow and has beautiful colours. One of the benefits of using stonecrop is also that the plant grows relatively low and has a high resistance to weather.

The Bunnies, the Carrots and the Butterflies are made of solid coloured white concrete. To produce the forms, the concrete was casted in fiberglass moulds. The wolves’ surfaces are treated with a weatherproof material.

Works ordered by: The Municipality of Sipoo

Artistic design and realization: Pekka Paikkari, Mari Paikkari

Production: Betonipallas Oy

Contact information

E-mail address

kulttuuri@sipoo.fi

Visiting information

Nikkiläntie 95, 04130 Sipoo