Peek, Wonder and Discover – Kerttu Horila Sculpture Tour in Rauma
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Kerttu Horila is a visual artist and sculptor originally from Iisalmi who lives and works in Rauma. Many of her works can be seen throughout the city, and several of them are among Rauma’s most well-known attractions.
Standing guard in front of Rauma City Hall, the Rauma Flikk statue is one of the most photographed spots in the city. It is an excellent starting point for a Kerttu Horila tour. From the Flikk, you can head towards the Church of the Holy Cross, where an elegant elderly lady sits upright on a bench with a hymnbook open in her lap. This figure is originally part of a larger artwork titled Women in Church (2008), which also includes a young girl and a mother with her child – there is hardly another woman in Rauma who has witnessed as many services, confirmations and weddings.
From the church, it’s worth heading towards Kuninkaankatu, where the hidden artwork Secret Paradise can be found between the Spärr and Kauppi houses, blending into its surroundings – do you dare to peek through the keyhole? This protected artwork dates back to the 2000s, when the Silmäoptikot Palmu shop expanded into a neighboring building. The passage between the buildings was highlighted by placing an artwork in the narrow space between them. You can admire Secret Paradise through a small viewing hole from the street or from inside the optician’s shop.
Länsikatu, branching off from Kauppakatu, leads visitors to the artist’s studio, where expressive ceramic faces peer out from the windows.
The final stop of the tour can be found in front of the City Hall. In the waters of the Rauma canal, there is a peculiar sight: three women in their swimsuits, their faces showing expressions of astonishment – even fear. By following the direction of their gaze, the reason becomes clear: a massive frog prince rises threateningly from the water. The three figures contain references to art history, fairy tales, and in their original form also to Kalevala mythology. During the winter, this work can also be admired at the Rauma swimming hall.
Less well-known works by Horila can be found outside the city center. Along Syväraumankatu, near Nyberg Park, passersby are greeted by a pair of schoolchildren from the ABC sculpture. On the exterior wall of Rauma Hospital, you can find a ceramic relief representing Horila’s earlier production, and at the Viherkäinen garden shop, an observant visitor may discover a sculpture depicting one of Horila’s clowns.
Enjoy your sculpture tour!
