Sanginkontu charmed the international LUCI group with its unique atmosphere
On a winter evening in February, a special moment was experienced along the Kiekonlenkki trail of the Sanginkontu art route, when more than one hundred visitors from around the world arrived to explore the art and atmosphere of the forest.
The visitors were attending the LUCI Cities & Lighting Summit, held in Oulu at the end of February. The event was organised in cooperation between the international LUCI network and its member city, the City of Oulu. This important annual event in the field of urban lighting brings together city representatives, architects, artists and lighting professionals from around the world to share knowledge, discuss current themes and explore the lighting sites of the host city.
This year’s summit in Oulu focused on the possibilities that art and technology offer for urban lighting, as well as on how light and darkness can be part of sustainable and inclusive urban planning.
One of the LUCI group’s excursion destinations was Sanginkontu.
Buses brought the participants to the starting point of the Kiekonlenkki trail, where the cheerful group was equipped with warm winter clothing. Soon they set off along the snowy forest path toward the art installations. For the visit, eleven campfire spots had been prepared in the forest, along with benches shaped from snow and wooden boards, creating warm meeting places along the route.
“The forest was an exotic experience – and not scary at all, even though that was my first thought.”
During the excursion, participants discovered several artworks: Felicia Honkasalo’s sound piece The Lost Walk With You, François Blosseville’s environmental artwork Spirit of the Forest, and Jussi Ruusulampi’s sculpture Koskiluotsi.
Around the campfires, guests enjoyed treats prepared by Sanginkontu Association along with steaming coffee brewed over an open fire. For many visitors, the Finnish forest offered a unique experience: snowy landscapes, silence and the peacefulness of nature left a lasting impression.
As soft snowflakes slowly began drifting down from the sky, the atmosphere became almost magical. Even the most talkative visitors grew quiet for a moment as everyone paused simply to watch and listen.
“Participating in the visit to Sanginkontu was an amazing experience,” one LUCI participant said. “The forest felt exotic – but not frightening at all, even though I initially thought it might be.”
One young French visitor summed up his feelings simply by declaring:
“This is paradise.”
At the same time, he tried to catch as many falling snowflakes as possible in his mouth and was the last to return to the bus for the journey back.
The LUCI group’s excursion was hosted by the City of Oulu, while the arrangements in Sanginkontu were organised by Sanginkontu Association, SLS Village Association and the Association for Rural Culture and Education (Maaseudun Sivistysliitto).
Warm thanks to everyone involved in making the event possible – guests, volunteers, guides and partners. The LUCI group’s visit to the Sanginkontu art trail was once again a wonderful example of what can be achieved through collaboration.
More information: Riitta Johanna Laitinen, project coordinator, The Association for Rural Culture and Education, riittajohanna.laitinen@msl.fi, tel. 358 40 584 4907.