TRACES OF FINLAND

I see cartography as a tool for storytelling: each space has a unique atmosphere and through mapping, features can be emphasized. When cartography meets imagination, new narratives might unfold. The quality of the Keski-Suomi landscape which I find the most perceptible, is its silent picturesqueness. Is there a way to capture silence with an architectural gesture? How to embody such an abstract notion? During my long walks, observations, and careful studies of the TUO TUO surroundings, I was reflecting on human intervention amidst natural sites. What kind of forms could encourage others to immerse themselves in the experience of this place? Creating an experience is one of the most fundamental aspirations of architecture as a discipline in my view. I started to use mapping as an exploration of possible realities and potential scenographies; seeking compositions that would respond to the site – looking for a dialogue between the new and existing. I value the power of freehand drawing; I find it similar to spontaneous storytelling. It allows us to assemble stories in space freely, to generate fictive worlds beyond logic. After endless sessions of sketching and tracing maps to understand their landforms, the concept of a temporary floating island emerged. It alludes to the nature of Keski-Suomi lakes which contain countless islands. They are peculiar, some of them are only a few meters long. I find them very charming and inviting to explore. I imagine a manmade island that is a floating path at the same time. It would become a scenography for the surreal walk on the lake. At the same time, it would create a frame for the group of rocks scattered across the water, emphasizing their composition and presence. One can arrive there only by boat, such an experience requires a journey. The installation can be seen as an observatory of the Valkealampi Lake, inviting visitors to stay silent and simply perceive what is there – to listen to the landscape. A setting that’s intentionally created to appreciate silence is valuable in a world full of noise. 

Project created during the artist-in-residence program at TUO TUO in Finland, October 2022