Statues talk in Helsinki

Image sources

Mon, 05 Jun 2017 08:29:03 +0000

Alexander II. Photo: Telling Company OY

The Stone of the Empress. Photo: Telling Company OY

Havis Amanda. Photo: Telling Company OY

Johan Ludvig Runeberg’s memorial. Photo: Helsinki City Material Bank / Pirita Männikkö

Eino Leino. Photo: Telling Company OY

Fact and Fable / memorial to Topelius. Photo: Telling Company OY

Marshal Mannerheim. © Kuvasto. Photo: HAM / Maija Toivanen

East and west / monument to the memory of president J. K. Paasikivi. © Kuvasto. Photo: HAM / Maija Toivanen

P. E. Svinhufvud. © Kuvasto. Photo: HAM / Maija Toivanen

K. J. Ståhlberg. © Kuvasto. Photo: HAM / Maija Toivanen

Kyösti Kallio memorial statue. © Copyright holder. Photo: HAM / Maija Toivanen

Lauri Kristian Relander. © Kuvasto. Photo: HAM / Maija Toivanen

Memorial To Risto Ryti. © Kuvasto. Photo: HAM / Maija Toivanen

Spring / UKK Monument. © Kuvasto. Photo: HAM / Maija Toivanen

Soihtu / The Torch, Memorial To Miina Sillanpää. © Kuvasto. Photo: HAM / Maija Toivanen

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Alexander II Senate Square

Fri, 24 Feb 2017 11:41:28 +0000

”Was I a wild animal that they should hunt me so? As if everything was my fault – the frost years, the famine, the starvation – all the suffering of 1860’s. It was I who set up the emergency aid committee. I did my all. Well, times were tough even when I became Tsar upon my the death of my father in 1855. We lost the Crimean war…”

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The Stone of the Empress Market Square

Fri, 24 Feb 2017 11:35:10 +0000

”There were so many poor people in this country in 1833. So many that something had to be done. Beeing tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna I felt it was my job. No, my duty! Allthough my husband, tsar Nicolas I, was somewhat dubious of course. But what a croud of people were here to greet us on the 29th of May in 1833 when we arrived on steam ship, no less, to inspect the construction of Helsinki…”

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Havis Amanda Market Square

Fri, 24 Feb 2017 11:28:24 +0000

”What an unbelievable mess. Un grande scandale! All because the sculptor Ville Vallgren made a scuplture of me, Marcelle Delquini, all of Helsinki went completely crazy. Ridiculous! The feminists spoke of Vallgren’s trollop, and can you belive it, the sculpture was unveiled in secret, on a sunday morning on 20th of sebtember 1908. Of course you can understand what all the fuss was about…”

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Johan Ludvig Runeberg Esplanade Park

Fri, 24 Feb 2017 11:23:22 +0000

”I Johan Ludvig Runeberg, the national poet of Finland, was born in 1804. And poems, I loved them from an early age. I was raised among humble people and it was these people I wanted to write about. I studied how the peasants transformed forest into fiedls bits by bits while they were grieved by hunger…”

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Eino Leino Esplanade Park

Fri, 24 Feb 2017 11:22:14 +0000

”I was out last night. Once again. We were at the Kämp – there were me, Sibelius, Kajanus, Järnefelt and Aho. Writers and composers. We were there a long time and got through a lots of alcohol. A poem, I come up with poems all the time. Poetry comes from suffering and joy and I’ve certainly suffered…”

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Zacharias Topelius Esplanade Park

Fri, 24 Feb 2017 11:16:26 +0000

”Yes – the vision of the artist Gunnar Finne – very fine, interpetation and symbolism. The other statue of me in the park by the Design museum is also quite fine, it was created in my likeness by Ville Vallgren. Very fine. I, Zacharias Topelius, am a man of two statues. And why is that? I was an author, journalist, historian and rector of the University of Helsinki. I was born in 1818 and my talents were recognized already at an early age. I lived to the age of 80. One can achieve a lot in 80 years, if one is diligent – as I was. I graduated from school at the age of 16, and was a poet by 17, I became editor in chief of Helsingfors tidningar newspaper. I wrote poetry, songs and stories that were later compiled in books…”

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How “The Statue Talks to You” was made

Fri, 24 Feb 2017 10:30:02 +0000

In 2007 the Public Works Department of the City of Helsinki (cur the City of Helsinki’s Urban Environment) introduced a unique guided walk during which actors portrayed the famous people memorialised by six statues and monuments in the city centre. The hour-and-a-half drama tour on Helsinki Day, 12 June, proved so popular that it has been held ever since on the city’s birthday, three times during the course of the day. Each tour has attracted around a hundred participants.

Audiences have commented how history is really brought to life by the entertaining dramatisations. In response, it was decided to immortalise the stories of Helsinki’s statues and monuments by producing short films, allowing the experience to be shared every day of the year. The scripts were also translated and performed in English and Swedish to serve foreign visitors. Swedish-language versions were filmed in 2015.

The implementation of the project began in early spring 2014. The original scripts were written by actor Altti Outinen and project manager Elina Nummi from the Public Works Department (since June 1, 2017 the City of Helsinki’s Urban Environment) using the kansallisbiografia.fi website and other sources for the biographical information. Tomi Leino from Telling Company Oy then adapted these scripts for the short films, and Edward Crockford from Crockford Communications Oy translated them into English and Staffan Högnäs into Swedish. Jyrki Luoma-aho served as the cameraman and editor for the project.

The films were shot in the second week of June in fine weather amidst the hustle and bustle of Helsinki in early summer. The costumes for the actors were rented from Artistiasu Oy, while the wigs and moustaches were supplied by H. Kuokkanen Peruukkiliike Oy. Elisa Koivuniemi was responsible for makeup and hair. Elina Nummi, Riitta Partanen and Mika Natunen from the Public Works Department all helped out during the filming as assistants. Editing took place during the summer, and sepia tones were used to create a historical atmosphere.

Stylish QR plaques were designed by graphic designer Outi Mansikkamäki and installed by the statues and monuments in September. The plaques feature a pair of QR codes that allow visitors to access the videos easily in either Finnish or English using their mobile devices while standing at the sites. The project was officially launched as part of Helsinki Design Week on 4 September 2014.

“The Statue Talks to You” is intended as a permanent element to help bring Finnish history to life by means of the latest technology. The City of Helsinki’s Urban Environment hopes that these stories will serve as an informative source of entertainment for residents and visitors alike.

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Introduction

Fri, 24 Feb 2017 10:22:02 +0000

The statues and monuments around Helsinki come to life!

The City of Helsinki’s Urban Environment organises guided drama walks on Helsinki Day, 12 June, with actors presenting statues and monuments in the city centre.

Now these statues and monuments can come to life every day. Plaques with QR codes have been placed next to the talking statues and monuments allowing visitors to access the videos easily in either Finnish, English or Swedish using their mobile devices. In the videos, actors portraying the famous people memorialised by the statues and monuments explain who they are and what they are doing here.

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Mannerheim Mannerheimintie

Thu, 23 Feb 2017 14:27:20 +0000

”Tomorrow I turn 75. I’ve seen so much in my life time. My military career in the tsar’s army, commander in chief of the Finnish army, regent of Finland – and my research expeditions through Asia – absolutely unbelievable. Today I heard that I would be receiving an uninvited guest…”

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