The Giant of Aura prepares to rise onto its pedestal

HC Berg, a sculptor and visual artist based in Espoo, is known for his large, highly interactive works that combine artistic insight and environmental thinking. The artist was chosen to carry out the work through a portfolio search organised by the Port of Turku and the City of Turku, which was open to professional artists and working groups in Finland. The selection of the work was based on the themes for Linnanniemi’s art programme, which emphasised the maritime nature and identity of the area as well as the way the work interacts with the architecture of the new terminal.

The Giant of Aura, which will become the new landmark for the port of Turku, is quickly nearing completion. The work, which will be placed in Otkantti Square beside the new passenger terminal, is currently being finished at the workshop, where its detailing, surfaces and structures are taking on their final form before being transported to Turku.

A giant constructed from aluminium and steel

The work is referred to as a one-tonne giant, and this is not far from the truth. Weighing almost 1,000 kilos in total, it is an impressive and sizeable work, constructed primarily from aluminium with steel parts to strengthen the structure.

At the workshop, the focus is now on the final stages of the work. The fins are almost finished, after which the artist will focus on finishing the overall form of the fish. Some of the most dramatic elements of the work, such as the mouth area and tail, will be completed during the autumn. Then comes the phase that involves the painting and placement of more than 600 colourful details.

The work is massive already at this stage, even without all of its parts yet in place. The turquoise base colour that can be seen at the workshop provides a glimpse of what the Giant of Aura will look like standing in its new location outside the passenger terminal.

The work has given rise to new ideas

According to HC Berg, the project has been interesting and the work has progressed well.
“The process has also given rise to a lot of new plans and ideas. One might even say that this pike has spawned offspring.”

The proximity to the sea is also strongly reflected in the work. The artist’s own relationship with the archipelago and the sea has been an important source of inspiration throughout the process. The work has sparked new ideas about sea-related works and prompted him to look at a familiar environment from yet another perspective.

During his long career, HC Berg has gained experience from numerous large-scale projects, but each new work of art also brings new lessons.

“After each project, you could write a book about the things you learn and observe along the way. The implementation is always different in some way from what was originally planned at the design table.”

The Giant of Aura is built to withstand time and weather conditions

The Giant of Aura was designed to withstand the marine environment and its varying weather conditions. The materials used in the work are the same ones used in the facades of public buildings across Europe. The maintainability of the work was taken into consideration already during the design phase.

Once completed, the work will be transported to Turku on a truck platform.

“I have taken the transport process into account in the structures of the work from the beginning and built it directly on the platform to be used for transport. This will help to minimise the handling of the work during transport, the process can be carried out safely and the striking surface will remain intact”, says HC Berg.

According to the current schedule, the Giant of Aura will arrive in Turku towards the end of the year. The unveiling of the work is scheduled to take place in March at the opening of the new passenger terminal, when the new landmark will greet its audience for the first time as part of the launch of the new era of the port and Linnanniemi area.

A new landmark in Linnanniemi

In particular, HC Berg is waiting for the moment when people can finally see the work in its planned location.

The Giant of Aura will change with the environment. The seasons, weather and light will constantly make it appear a bit different. From a close perspective, the viewer’s attention is drawn to the details, while the focus from a distance is on the work as a whole.
“I also look forward to all the photos that will be taken of it. It will be interesting to see how the work changes with the light and comes to life at different distances”, Berg says.

In many ways, the Giant of Aura is a continuation of the artist’s previous work. He strives to go deeper than the surface in his works, and there is often an interesting story behind them. The Giant of Aura is also based on the artist’s own relationship with the sea and his personal fishing experiences.

The colourfulness of the work will bring life to the terminal environment, especially during the dark season. At the same time, its vibrant colours will distinguish it from the surrounding architecture and make it an easily recognisable part of the cityscape within the port.

The Giant of Aura will also contribute to the realisation of the new Linnanniemi art district. It will be the first permanent work of art in the area and the first completed art project that makes public art a visible part of the developing maritime urban environment.

Text: Marjo Saviranta
Photos: Aija Kallio