Fragments of the Sky

Emma Rönnholm’s Fragments of the Sky (Fragment av himmel) is a geometric cloud made of thin metal sheets hanging from the ceiling. The work is simple in form, but it rewards the viewer with its surprising transformations and beautiful details. This piece, created for Hoplaxskolan School in Munkkiniemi, is located on a stair landing where people gather but also pass through in different directions. Rönnholm’s work gains its power and appeal from these transitions and changing perspectives. 

The work combines shiny stainless steel and brass as its materials. The metal sheet surfaces have been treated using various techniques, including grinding, heat colouring, and varnishing. During the day, light flooding in through the staircase windows plays across the sheets’ surfaces, and in the evening, the specially designed lighting reveals countless reflections.

Rönnholm drew inspiration for her piece from the optical and kinetic art and design of the time when the school, completed in 1952, was constructed. She created a clear and regular visual appearance for the piece while also adding a handmade feel and elements of surprise.

Emma Rönnholm (b. 1984) is a Helsinki-based visual artist. She graduated in 2011 from the Academy of Fine Arts, where she studied painting and sculpture. She works with sculpture and installation, often featuring movement or other mechanical elements. Materials and related processes are central parts of her practice. Rönnholm has had several solo shows and her work has been featured in group exhibitions in Finland and abroad.

The work belongs to the City of Helsinki’s art collection, which is managed and curated by HAM.