Mirrorization (Peilauma)
Visual artist Arja Kärkkäinen’s artwork ‘The Mirrorization’ was completed in the summer of 2026 in the Marikonranta underpass beneath Neulaniementie. The work consists of 262 hand-rolled ceramic tiles, which extend along almost the entire length of the underpass.
‘The Mirrorization’ portrays the horizon formed by the surface of a still lake. The inspiration for the work came from the name of Savilahti (which literally means ‘Clay Bay’): clay as a material and the process of shaping it by hand-rolling. The artist has hand-crafted each tile individually. Different types of clay and glazes create varied, aesthetically intriguing surfaces and details. ‘The Mirrorization’ invites passers-by to pause for a moment in the passageway.
Before the artwork was installed in its permanent location in the Neulaniementie underpass, it was exhibited at Kärkkäinen’s exhibition at Porvoo Art Hall in 2024.
Location: Marikonranta underpass, near the junction of Neulaniementie and Sarastuskaari
Year of completion: 2026
Commissioned by: City of Kuopio
The artist
Arja Kärkkäinen is a visual artist based in Helsinki who works in Mustio. Kärkkäinen is currently a doctoral researcher at the Academy of Fine Arts, specialising in habitable sculptures. In her art, Kärkkäinen explores social themes such as communication and inclusion. Her works are characterised by a wide variety of techniques.
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