The central elements of artist Fabio Petani’s mural are the Oulujoki river and nature themes from the local landscape. Myllyoja was chosen as the mural’s location through a vote open to all citizens of Oulu. Oulu2026 murals are executed annually as part of the journey towards Oulu’s European Capital of Culture year 2026.
The third Oulu2026 mural has been completed in Myllyoja. Photo: Juha Niemelä
Visual artist Fabio Petani’s artwork Ferrous sulfate, Achillea millefolium & Lathyrus palustris has been completed in Myllyoja, Oulu. The piece was executed as part of the Oulu2026 cultural program. The Italian artist was chosen via a portfolio application from 39 European countries. The nature-themed mural is located on the end wall of a six-story building at the address Karvarinaukio 12.
Fabio Petani, who works mainly with nature-related themes, arrived in Oulu in August to study the motif of the mural. He participated in a day trip to Hailuoto arranged by the residents’ association of Myllyoja, after which he focused on studying and photographing nature in the Myllyoja area. From these nature-themed images, Petani created a balanced composition reflecting the beauty of the local environment. The fresh color palette was inspired by the energy and vibrancy of the growing city.
“The central element of the painting is the Oulujoki river, which cuts through the landscape. This historically significant river connects the city’s past, present, and future. For the flowers in the piece, I chose white Achillea millefolium and purple Lathyrus palustris, which are common plants in the area,” Petani explains about the themes of the artwork.
Petani’s signature style combines harmony and disruption. The circular form, characteristic of his paintings, also appears in the Myllyoja mural.
“Circles play a key role in most of my works. The simple shape of the circle, often associated with harmony and balance, helps to combine the mural’s natural elements.”
Petani hopes that the mural will be seen not only as a decoration to beautify the area, but as a tribute to the city ahead of its year as the European Capital of Culture.
“The work celebrates Oulu and invites to reflect the relationship between humans and nature. It enriches the city’s cultural landscape as Oulu prepares for the significant milestone in 2026.”
Residents have the power to choose the locations of the murals
The locations of the Oulu2026 murals are chosen by citizens of Oulu in a yearly vote. The previous murals are in Rajakylä and Tuira. In 2023, Canadian artist Ilana Pichon executed Ovensuussa (Au pas de la porte) in Tuira and in 2022, British artist Eloise Gillow executed Käännekohta (Turning Point) in Rajakylä.
The vote for next year’s mural location opens in early 2025. In 2026, when Oulu becomes the European Capital of Culture, a mural will be painted in the city center. After completion the artworks will become part of the collection of Oulu Art Museum.
The art coordination and production of the project is managed by Upeart.
Oulu is the European Capital of Culture 2026. Oulu and the whole Northern Finland will be filled with culture, art, and events. Northern Finland will be put on the map like never before, as both Finnish and international culture operators create new visions in cities, in the countryside, and in nature. This is a journey of several years, which will culminate in 2026.
More information:
Upeart
+358 50 468 6521
press(at)upeart.com
It’s a disused industrial building made of concrete that looks like a cathedral, designed by Alvar and Aino Aalto in 1931 as part of a cellulose factory.
The Toppila Silo captured the imagination of Eleftérios Kechagioglou at first sight. Kechagioglou has a passion for re-thinking abandoned industrial sites that have fallen into disrepair. His mission is to use them to bring art to people. He’s the director of Le Plus Petit Cirque du Monde (PPCM), a French organisation staging performances that use circus arts as a tool for social change and community development.
Climbing over Oulu is a PPCM production that combines music, dance and circus aiming to create a new kind of dialogue between artists and ordinary citizens. Oulu is the fourth city In Europe where the show has been delivered, after performances in previous European capitals of culture in Greece, Romania and Hungary. But audiences in each location have had quite a different experience.
“The skeleton of the performance originates in Greece but the show is site-specific: we create a new version every time we take it to a new place,” explains Kechagioglou.
A core group of artists from France, Tunisia and Greece were joined by Finnish colleagues from Flow Productions to adapt the performance for Toppila Silo. According to Gaëtan Levêque, PPCM’s artistic director, the team added topics and themes related to the industrial heritage of Oulu.
“There were also some unique challenges: the silo’s uneven floor was one of them. Overcoming such challenges is a very rewarding part of our job,” points out Levêque.
The performers were inspired by being in a space that was originally designed to store wood chips in a factory. Dancer Lucille Chalopin admitted she experienced a mix of emotions. “The silo is a massive monument. One the one hand, it’s fragile and old. On the other hand it’s scary,” she admitted after climbing up a wall and performing a set of spectacular acrobatic moves during rehearsals.
The performance on June 13, 2024 marked the first occasion when an audience was allowed inside the silo since the Toppila Pulp Mill was closed in 1985. An estimated 350 people turned up to share the experience.
“When you don’t allow people into a building for almost 40 years, there’s a disconnection to history,” says Amine Slimani, an architect with PPCM. “We’re keen to understand the story of the building and the neighbourhood and help re-establish that connection.”
The audience’s reaction was a mix of awe, excitement and joy. There were gasps of amazement followed by thunderous applause. The energy in the crowd was palpable, with cheers and clasps building in intensity as each act reached its climax.
For one member of the audience, the performance brought back very special memories. Antero Marttila completed his summer work experience in the silo as a technical school student in the late 1950s. “It’s wonderful to see how much beauty can be created in such a rough industrial place,” he said.
Climbing over Oulu is produced by Le Plus Petit Cirque du Monde and Flow Productions for Oulu2026, in collaboration with Aalto Siilo ry and the Factum Foundation
The Post-Industrial Dance is held at Aaltosiilo in Meri-Toppila, Oulu on the 14th of September.
On September 14, 2024, the Aalto Silo, Oulu’s historical architectural landmark, is set to host the much-anticipated Aaltosiilo Festival 2024: “The Post-Industrial Dance” on September 14th. This festival marks a significant step in the transformation of the concrete silo, originally designed by Finland’s renowned architects Alvar and Aino Marsio Aalto, into a cutting-edge multimedia performance and exhibition space.
The festival, conceived by Valentino Tignanelli, runs from 13:00 to 22:00 EEST. It promises a unique blend of music, dance, and multimedia performances that engage directly with the building’s industrial heritage and its future as a cultural hub. This year’s theme, “The Post-Industrial Dance,” explores the ways in which post-industrial landscapes can be reimagined through art and architecture, with a special focus on the integration of concrete spolia waste into sustainable construction.
AaltoSiilo’s Transformation
The AaltoSiilo, originally built in 1931 as a silo for storing woodchips, is undergoing a significant restoration and reinvention, led by Skene Catling de la Peña and supported by the Oulu City Council as a legacy project for Oulu 2026. In 2020, Factum Foundation for Digital Technology in Preservation bought the Silo. Adam Lowe, Factum’s founder, and Charlotte Skene Catling, of Skene Catling de la Peña, have developed a vision for the vast, concrete-like cathedral. It is intended to act as a catalyst for urban regeneration by redefining the relationship between man and the environment. The Silo represents another time when resources were perceived as infinite and only to be exploited, with no thought of the consequences. The first phase of these restoration proposals has been approved, aiming to double the lifespan of this architectural masterpiece by transforming it into a 525 sqm multimedia performance space. Future plans also include a 1,150 sqm Research Lab dedicated to sustainable construction practices.
Festival Highlights
The Aaltosiilo Festival 2024 features a diverse lineup of performances designed to test and showcase the building’s capabilities as a multimedia centre. The festival includes:
• LNA (DJ) & OIVO (DJ): These performances kick off the festival, with vinyl selections that mirror the rough, weathered beauty of the AaltoSiilo, ranging from downtempo to dystopian sounds.
• Alvar Aalto Photography Landscapes Block: Featuring work by renowned artist Elina Brotherus and a Meri-Toppila Photowalk exhibition by Photonorth, this segment explores the intersection of architecture, photography, and public space.
• Live Music & Multimedia Performances: The day will be filled with live electronic performances by artists like OSSIA (UK) and a special guest from Tartu 2024. AaltoSiilo will also connect with Villa Tammekann in Tartu through a live-streamed hybrid audiovisual performance by Gatesleeper and VJ Tencu.
• Concrete Cathedral & Silo Dance: Multidisciplinary performances by artists Antonia Henn and Sisko Iljana will collect and present the dreams of Meri-Toppila residents, while acrobatic choreographies by Lisa Ilona Jantti and Pavlína Podzimková will showcase the building’s unique features.
• Triálogo: A location-sensitive live performance where flamenco artist Anna Murtola, electronic musician Josu Mämmi, and the AaltoSiilo itself engage in a tripartite conversation that spans time. This unique performance incorporates soundscapes, history, and interviews with former workers of the Toppila Oy factory, adding their experiences to the show’s soundscape. Murtola, the world’s northernmost flamenco singer, and Mämmi, a versatile composer and sound designer, bring together a blend of tradition and innovation that reflects the rich history and future aspirations of the AaltoSiilo.
Event Details
• Date: September 14, 2024
• Time: 13:00 – 22:00 EEST
• Location: AaltoSiilo, Alvar Aallon Katu 5, Meri-Toppila, Oulu, Finland
• After Party: 23:00 at 45 Special, Saaristonkatu 12, Oulu
• Live Streaming: https://www.twitch.tv/aaltosiilo
The Aaltosiilo Festival 2024 is a free public event, part of the Oulu European Capital of Culture 2026 program. All performances will be live-streamed on a 14m² LED screen outside the silo, ensuring that the public can enjoy the experience both inside and outside the venue.
Aaltosiilo Festival 2024 is produced by Aaltosiilo Ry and Factum Foundation in collaboration with Oulu 2026 – European Capital of Culture. This event is made possible thanks to the collaboration and support of the Finnish Estonian Institute, Turku University Foundation, Tartu 2024, Oulu 2026, Ö Studio, Factum Foundation, Aaltosiilo Ry, and pARTir.
Parallel Event – The Aalto Bridge
The festival also includes “Aalto Bridge,” a parallel event in Tartu, Estonia. The cities of Tartu and Oulu, both designated as European Capitals of Culture for 2024 and 2026 respectively, host buildings by Aalto that will serve as vibrant arenas for concerts and other cultural programs live-streamed between the two cities. This initiative allows the residents of Tartu and Oulu to participate in a shared celebration of art and architecture, fostering a sense of unity without the need for travel. In Tartu, the event will feature performances by Estonian electronic music and video artist Gatesleeper (Martin Rästa) and VJ Tencu (Andres Tenusaar), offering a fresh perspective on Alvar Aalto’s legacy. Gatesleeper is known for his innovative fusion of sound, image, and various art forms, while VJ Tencu is a renowned director, animator, and audiovisual artist. The event will also include a talk by architectural historian Karin Hallas-Murula on the significance of Aalto’s work, along with free introductory tours of Villa Tammekann and a relaxing garden party.
The six-hour live cultural broadcast will blend different art forms, bridging the architectural styles and cultural contexts of two Aalto buildings in two cultural capitals. While Villa Tammekann is a charming villa that was once home to geography professor August Tammekann, who admired Aalto’s modernist vision, the Toppila cellulose factory in Oulu, of which the cathedral-like silo was the signature building, showcases Aalto’s unique approach to industrial design.
Parallel Event – Reception at the Iberoamerican Finnish Institute in Madrid, Spain
In addition to the events in Oulu and Tartu, a special reception will be held at the Iberoamerican
Finnish Institute in Madrid:
• Date: 14 September 2024
• Time: 17:00 to 21:00
• Venue: Finnish Cultural Institute in Madrid, Calle San Agustín, 7, 28012 Madrid
This reception will feature live screenings from AaltoSiilo in Oulu and the Finnish Cultural Institute in Tartu. The schedule includes:
• 17:00 LIVE FROM ESTONIA: Gatesleeper and VJ Tencu
• 19:00 LIVE FROM OULU: Trialogo – Flamenco performance by Anna Murtola and Josu Mämmi
• 20:00 LIVE FROM OULU: Ilmatila acrobatic performance in and on the Aalto Silo
The Finnish Institute in Madrid will provide drinks, and attendees will have the opportunity to view the exhibition “On Poetry, Mythology, and Allegory: Prints by Vargas and Varis.” The Finnish Cultural Institute in Madrid is one of 15 Finnish Institute´s worldwide. It aims to promote Finnish culture in Spain, Portugal and Latin America as well as dialogue between cultures.
For more information, please follow the Finnish Institute in Madrid’s communication channels:
Instagram: @proyecto.uoma / @institutofinlandia
Website: www.madrid.fi
Facebook: Instituto Iberoamericano de Finlandia
For additional inquiries, please contact:
Producer: Outi Kuoppala
Email: outi.kuoppala@madrid.fi
We are the Culture – Idea Workshops The Equal Oulu2026 project will organize online workshops in autumn 2024 about the open call. In this two-part workshop, you’ll receive tips and support for developing your program idea and guidance on completing your application. The workshops will also address questions related to accessibility, participation, and equality in program implementation.
Two “We are the culture” project workshop series (two-part)willbeorganized in autumn 2024:
Tuesday 1st October and 8th October 9 – 11 a.m. (registration open until Tuesday 24th September).
Monday 28th October and 4th November 5 – 7 p.m. (registration open until Monday 21st October).
Schedule and programme:
Thefirst workshop day programme (Tuesday 1st October 9 -11 a.m. and Monday 28th October 5 – 7 p.m.)
Introduction to the “We are the culture” open call
Application criteria
Application form and questions
Developing We are the culture project ideas
The second workshop day programme (Tuesday 8th October 9 – 11 a.m. and Monday 4th November 5 – 7 p.m.)
Tools to ensure accessible, inclusive, and diverse program planning.
You can order a two-part “We are the culture” project workshop for your group (e.g., work community, team, organization, volunteers, group of friends, school class, etc.). The minimum number of participants for customized workshops is 12 people. Workshops can be conducted online (Teams) or on-site. The dates will be agreed upon with the ordering party.
Arctic Food Lab’s first Long Table Dinner got an enthusiastic reception last summer. Photo: Topi Paananen
The Long Table Dinner will be held during Oulu Arts’ Night on August 15th. A 75-metre table for dining and entertainment will be set up on Hallituskatu. The relaxed event is open to everyone and is free of charge. The Long Table Dinner is part of Oulu2026’s Arctic Food Lab -programme and Korttelihaipakka.
The Long Table Dinner setting invites the city residents to a shared table to enjoy good food, company, and programme. The tables are set on Hallituskatu from the Kivisydän ramp towards the railway station.
You can sit down at the table with homemade or takeout dishes from nearby restaurants. OSAO students sell tasting portions on site, and Terwa Foodtruck and a mocktail cart by Cocktail Company also curve down the street.
Korttelihaipakka together with Rotos ry brings live music to the table, and in the spirit of the event some of the shops in Hallituskatu are open longer. The first live music show starts at 5 p.m. The event lasts until 10 p.m., and you can sit down at the long table during any moment of the evening.
The whole versatile programme will be announced in early August. According to Arctic Food Lab project manager Niina Keränen, new partners and new programme are still being included.
“Welcome to enjoy The Long Table Dinner, which brings city residents to a common table in the middle of Oulu on a summer evening! The event is a great opportunity to participate in communal moments with good food and a varied programme. The evening, accompanied by live music, offers joy and encounters for all. If you have any ideas or would like to participate in making this an unforgettable evening, please contact us,” adds Keränen.
The Long Table Dinner, held for the second time, is part of the Oulu region’s journey to become the European Capital of Culture in 2026. The Arctic Food Lab programme shows what northern food culture is, and what kind of products and services can be refined from the pure raw materials of the Oulu2026 area with high-quality, local expertise.
