Jan-Erik Andersson: The Brownie of the Turku Castle and Valpuri Innamaa meet on the Theatre Bridge

Jan-Erik Andersson: The Brownie of the Turku Castle and Valpuri Innamaa meet on the Theatre Bridge

Jan-Erik Andersson’s (b.1954) three-part environmental artwork animates the Theatre Bridge in Turku. The work is a storylike depiction of the meeting between the Brownie of the Turku Castle and Valpuri Innamaa. The artwork was acquired as part of the environmental art project of the Pro Cultura Foundation.

The Brownie of the Turku Castle became famous through the tales of Zacharias Topelius. Valpuri Innamaa, on the other hand, was a successful 16th century businesswoman and part of the Renaissance bourgeoisie. She created a booming business after her husband’s death. As a fairy tale creature the Brownie represents the cultural world, while Valpuri is a pioneer of the progressive business world. In Andersson’s work these two characters meet in the centre of town and of River Aura.

Andersson’s environmental artwork is a three-part ensemble. The Brownie’s hat and a lock of Valpuri’s hair almost touch each other in an ornamental granite design on the bridge deck. Close to the bridge, on the eastside of the river stands a colourfully lit display case visualising the meeting of the characters. The third part of the artwork is a continuing story that Jan Andersson began writing and other authors from Turku have continued.

Read the continuing story on the artist's homepage