Matti Martikainen

Sonkajärvi (1947)

Matti Martikainen is the owner of Paimet, a manufacturer of metal structures and parts in Sonkajärvi. Martikainen, who began working after primary school, is a multi-talented inventor and also owns several patents. In addition to making metal sculptures, Martikainen is also a writer, an actor at the Paisua summer theatre and a two-time world champion in Tonkkumi, which involves throwing milking machine rubber liners into a milk churn.  

Martikainen’s works are mainly made of steel and are often based on globally important current affairs and phenomena. Some of his metal sculptures, which depict global warming, the melting of icebergs, the arrival of alien species and the destruction of the coronavirus will be on display in the centre of Rutako, Sonkajärvi, until autumn 2022. The municipality and local residents wanted to have works of art on the village road, and Martikainen made their wish come true. This allowed him to display his works of art in public places, where they are accessible to wide audiences. Martikainen’s thinks that this is a way to liven up the town.

Text: Mari Kekäläinen, Riitta Kärkkäinen Photos: Mari Kekäläinen, Jari Ruotsalainen Translation: Kirsti Nurmela-Knox

ITE Art surveys / Northern Savonia 2020–2022