Kaulanen wins 1st prize in Koivisto´s memorial design competition

The first prize in the design competition for a memorial honouring late President Mauno Koivisto has been awarded to Kirsi Kaulanen’s proposal Välittäjä (The Mediator), said a government press release on Wednesday.

The competition was of an artistically high standard, with 110 entries received. Prizes were awarded to three entries in the competition, while three received commendation awards.

The awards committee sought to avoid general value judgements with respect to various artistic trends, styles, or modes of artistic expression, and accordingly decided to commend a wide variety of competition entries.

The first prize is valued at EUR 20,000.

“This proposed monument will stand on both sides of a pathway through Little Parliament Park. Its polished stainless steel material will incorporate the reflection of onlookers and of the surroundings. The work accordingly places the viewer between two worldviews, reflecting the geographical position of Finland between East and West, and the role of late President Mauno Koivisto as a builder of cooperation,” the committee described.

The awards committee consisted of Koivisto´s memorial committee and two artists appointed by the Artists’ Association of Finland. The memorial committee is chaired by former Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen.

The memorial to former President Mauno Koivisto will be created based on the proposal that won first prize.

The goal is for the memorial to be completed and erected in the park outside the Little Parliament by 25 November 2023, when 100 years will have passed since the birth of former president Koivisto.

The second prize, valued at EUR 15,000, was awarded to Matti Vesanen’s proposal Hitaalla tiellä (On the Slow Road).

The third prize (EUR 10,000) was awarded to Pauno Pohjolainen’s proposal Sillanrakentaja (The Bridgemaker).

Commendation awards (EUR 3,333) were given to Considerations (Markus Kähre), Words (Nestori Syrjälä) and A Dockworker in Thought (Anssi Pulkkinen).

Images and miniature models of the six award-winning works will be on display at the Helsinki Central Library Oodi on 1–15 September. All of the competition entries can also be viewed in a virtual exhibition online.