TOIMELA project

murals in old people's home Toimela, Kurikka (Finland)

I was subscribed to do murals on the walls of old people's home Toimela in my hometown Kurikka. I did the work during the fall 2008. The subscriber had some wishes concerning the painting themes. Sceneries from the familiar surroundings, Osthrobotnian nature and animal figures were welcome. I painted one mural into the living room, one into the dining room and in all four murals into two corridors.

In the living room there was already an installation on the wall; a wooden platform for the milk casks, a calf of a cow and a pair of birch trees. I was asked to paint a country landscape behind this installation. I painted a summery field with the sun rising up behind the border of forest.

In the dining room there was also an installation; a wooden window frame with curtains. I painted an indoor view of "a grandma's cottage" inside the frame. A cat is sitting by the window and next to the cat there's also a plant. I painted the wall around the window frame. In my opinion the walls of a traditional grandma's cottage should be red. On the other hand, the bright red colour would be too intense in the dining room. I made a more suitable colour by mixing up red with some lighter colours.

On the corridors I painted four seasons. On one corridor I painted summer and fall, winter and spring on the other. The colours on these paintings were naturally determined by the different seasons. The old people liked especially the animal figures so I was supposed to add them on these paintings as well. For example three dogs, a cat, a squirrel and a couple of horses were born to brighten up the scenery.

This project was the first so extensive and demanding one during my career so far. Working in Toimela among the old people was rewarding and pleasant for me. I appreciate the surroundings in question, both the old people and their caretakers. I was very glad to have an opportunity as an artist to affect on their everyday life in Toimela.

Helsinki in November 2008