PAINTING AND SCULPTURE VIDEOPUBLIC ART ABOUTCV & TEXTS
PUBLIC ART
Photo: HAM / Helsinki Biennial / Sonja Hyytiäinen
FROM THE DARK INTO THE GREAT BLUE YONDER
Bronze sculpture and sound installation – 2025
Interacting with the biosphere, the artwork consists of a patinated bronze sculpture and a digitally controlled soundscape. Biosensors beneath the ground register the communication between tree roots and the rest of the underground biosphere, and gives impulses to the meditative sound, which originates from vibrating Tibetan singing bowls.
Gunzi Holmström’s sculpture is a celebration of the amazing power of the life force. The artist is intrigued by nature’s complex webs of reciprocity and the rich subterranean life contained within soil. The essence and origins of life nevertheless remain an unexplained mystery to humans.
From the Dark Into the Great Blue Yonder is an entanglement of fungi, tree roots, jellyfish and micro-organisms. Elements suggestive of extraterrestrial life forms and science fiction are also present. The soundscape features Tibetan singing bowls modulated by biosensors that respond to underground electrical impulses. Invoking ancient wisdom on meditation and healing, the vibrating sounds have a soothing effect on the mind.
The artist wishes to thank the curators of Helsinki Biennal 2025: Kati Kivinen and Blanca de la Torre, and Jari Lehtinen who did the technical design and implementation. Big thanks to the people at HAM (Helsinki City Art Museum), and Helsinki City, who commissioned the art work. The piece will be placed permanently in a park in Helsinki.
Photo:Hanasaari Cultural Center / Petri Summanen
THE MUSHROOM
Bronze sculpture and sound installation – 2023
The Mushroom is an interactive artwork that combines an olive-green bronze sculpture with a dreamy, evocative soundworld. Underground biosensors pick up communication between a fungus mycelium and tree roots. These impulses are turned into a mysterious music that can be heard on the seashore of Hanaholmen’s southwestern promontory.
The Mushroom is Holmström’s third public artwork. The technical design and implementation were done by Jari Lehtinen, and the piece uses tones from the Bell Tree instrument made by the Danish company Aluphone. The Mushroom has been produced by Hanaholmen – the Swedish-Finnish Cultural Centre, Konstsamfundet, and Pro Artibus Foundation, which was also the project’s artistic expert.
OMPHALOMIN
2006
interactive sound sculpture. Mixed media, height 80 cm.
The Omphalomin is a permanent outdoor sound sculpture. It was commissioned by the Helsinki City Art Museum 2006 and it is placed in a park in eastern Helsinki (Rekipellonpuisto, Vesala).
The sculpture is made of stainless steel and creates sound through optical sensors, which react to the movement of the hands of the player. My inspiration for this work was the theremin, one of the first electronic instruments (1919) and designed to be played without being touched by it's creator Léon Theremin.
”Omphalos” is Greek and means ”navel”, the centre of the world. The mirror-like surface of the sculpture reflects the environment, and the optic sensors reacts softly to the movement of the hands of the player. The sound works as a sculptural element – it has a mould, texture and dynamics.
I also planned the three winding stone aisles that lead up to the small hill where the sculpture is placed.
My thanks to Jari Lehtinen who invented the technical solutions, and to Klas Fontell at the Helsinki City Art Museum who believed in the idea.
CALEIDOSKOPE
light sculpture, 2002, 2 m x 2 m, technique mixed.
The "Caleidoskope" was commissioned by the Helsinki City for a new building in Laajasalo in Helsinki (a health and social center).
The lights (duo color RBG LEDs) are programmed to change color in certain intervals. The light pattern is constantly changing, and new mandala patterns are created.
© Gun Holmström 2020