Lanu-puisto, Sculpture park in Lahti, Finland
Lanu-puisto is a sculpture park featuring twelve concrete artworks set within a deciduous forest near Vesijärvi lake in Lahti. The human figures stand in various poses throughout the wooded paths, creating a series of art installations integrated into the natural landscape.
The park was created between 1989 and 1992 when sculptor Olavi Lanu collaborated with students from Lahti Institute of Arts to produce all twelve works. This collaboration marked a significant period of public art development in the region.
The sculptures depict people engaged in everyday activities, many modeled after individuals from the local community. Walking among them, you see human experiences frozen in concrete forms that blend into the surrounding forest.
The site is about one and a half kilometers from downtown Lahti and accessed through woodland paths that are easy to walk. Visitors can use mobile guides to learn more about individual sculptures while exploring the grounds.
Over time, the concrete sculptures have developed moss and lichen coverings that fulfill the artist's original intention for the works to merge with the natural surroundings. This gradual transformation creates an evolving relationship between the artworks and the forest ecosystem.
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