Park with statues making sounds

FINLAND - In a park, many statues possess a grin with real teeth and the sound emanating from the throat.

Parikkala is a sculpture park in Koitsanlahti. It holds nearly 500 statues of Veijo Rönkkönen, a paper mill worker. Most of them are human figures. They are nuns, men in traditional Finnish clothing, children and women waving. All are expressed with every level of emotion, through moments of fun, sports and even pain. Their gaze reveals a range of emotional states, from enthusiasm to uncertainty, from weakness to aggression.

Statue of woman with sunken eyes, big smile and real human teeth. Photo: Twitter.

However, there are many works that possess strange shapes like children holding up into the air, adults laughing with real human teeth. Others have built-in speakers, constantly muttering incomprehensible mumbling sounds. Most of them are covered with green moss or have flowers that grow from various parts of the body.

Rönkkönen's cast represents different cultures, religions, and rituals. However, Rönkkönen seldom left his home, so all his ideas were taken from books. More than half of his work is on postures of yoga, balancing with one arm or leg naked.

The moss-covered statues attract tens of thousands of visitors each year. Photo: Twitter.

Rönkkönen used to practice yoga in the 1960s. Therefore, besides reflecting his passion for the outside world, the works are said to have similarities with their makers, expressing his inner life.

Born in 1944 in rural Parikkala, about a 5-minute drive from the Russian border, Rönkkönen started working at the factory at the age of 16. While still alive, he was a recluse, daily just hanging around at his factory and farm.

After Rönkkönen's death in 2010, it was known that he was a mysterious artist with a huge treasure of statues. According to local stories, Rönkkönen's sculpture garden began with a bag of cement and apple seedlings, which he bought with his first salary.

For 50 years, Rönkkönen's garden was filled with nearly 500 concrete sculptures. Photo: Artsy.

Nine years after his death, the place remains intact and attracts about 25,000 visitors each year. Most visitors come here to be curious because of the gloomy atmosphere and the character community that Rönkkönen has worked hard for half a century.

While alive, Rönkkönen welcomed people to visit his garden, but refused to promote them to the outside world. Today, his garden and properties were acquired by a Dutch businessman - Reino Uusitalo. They intend to refurbish the works as needed and provide additional guided tours in the garden.

Parikkala Park is located at 611 Kuutostie Street, Parikkala. The destination is open on weekdays and there is no admission fee. From Helsinki, visitors can travel by train to Parikkala, the estimated time is 3 hours. Then, from the center of Parikkala, you will take Highway 6 to the sculpture park.

Guests should prepare food and drink before visiting. In addition to the park, you can visit the nearby Siikalahti mangrove area, home to more than 200 different bird species.