Ilmatar and the Scaup, Bronze and granite sculpture in Sibelius Park, Finland.
Ilmatar and the Scaup is a bronze sculpture set on a red granite pedestal located in Sibelius Park in Helsinki. The work depicts a reclining female figure with a duck positioned on her body.
The sculptor Aarre Aaltonen created this work after winning a competition held by the Leo and Regina Wainstein foundation in 1939, and it was placed here in 1946. Since then it has remained in its location within the park.
This work shows a moment from the Kalevala where a scaup duck deposits eggs on the goddess, which leads to the creation of earth in Finnish mythology. That mythological moment holds deep meaning in Finnish culture and becomes visible through this artistic presentation.
This work sits in the Taka-Töölö district and is accessible by foot from nearby areas. The granite base displays inscribed text from the Kalevala epic that you can read while standing in front.
The composition draws from Art Deco style and echoes the classical story of Leda and the Swan through its arrangement. A European artistic tradition was applied here to express Finnish mythological content.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
