Paateri Church, Lutheran church in Vuonislahti, Finland
Paateri Church is a wooden church building in Vuonislahti, a small locality in the municipality of Lieksa in Finland. The interior was entirely shaped by sculptor Eva Ryynänen, from the carved beams to the altar, and large windows bring in plenty of daylight.
The church was completed in 1991 by sculptor Eva Ryynänen and forms part of a compound that also includes her home and studio. Building a church was an unusual step for a sculptor, and it grew out of her personal faith and her years working as an art teacher.
The altar made from tree roots draws the eye immediately and connects the interior to the pine forest just outside. In Finland, nature tends to be part of everyday life, and this building makes that feeling tangible in a place of worship.
The building is open mainly during the warmer months, when the rest of the property is also accessible to visitors. Since it is a working church, keeping a respectful tone inside is appreciated.
Ryynänen began carving the interior when she was already in her 60s and worked on it over several years. The flowers, birds, and animal faces she carved into the wood were drawn directly from the nature around her property.
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