Coastline Sculpture Project, Hanko
The Coastline Sculpture Project was a cooperative project between six artists. It was realised as an exhibition of sculptures in the spectacular location of Hanko in the southernmost coastal area of Finland in July 2021. In addition to myself, the other sculptors were Leena Kangaskoski, Ida Koitila, Tiina Rantanen, Emma Rönnholm and Salla Vapaavuori.
The project was started the previous autumn, in August 2020, when the group rented a communal space in order to visit Hanko and its surrounding area; the marine nature, the old buildings and remnants of war. I was specially impressed by the nature of the rough and rocky coast. We returned to Hanko in June 2021 and started the project. Each artist chose a specific site for their work. Mine was called “Discussion at the water’s edge”: eleven wooden sculptures of beaks of birds that live on the shoreline. The work also included stories related to the visual part. The exhibition was realised in cooperation with Harha mobile app which allowed the exhibition to include photos and background stories and also for the audience to take part. The stories related to my work can still be read on Harha mobile app (in Finnish).
Website of the project: https://www.coastlinesculptureproject.org/
Hanko is a resting place for migratory birds on their way to north and their way back south. Sea birds live within three elements; land, sea and air. According to current knowledge bird sounds are the nearest equivalent to human speech and some sounds can almost be imagined as words. Their small lungs and beaks can produce incredibly loud sounds. The shapes and forms of the beaks have adapted to their surroundings. I used pine wood for the beaks and they are placed on the trees along the shore. The related stories are imaginative glimpses to a nature community where all the different parts form an entity.
Photos 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10: Sandra Kantanen