Rumba returns to Ruoholahti while work continues on the Stone of the Empress

The Ruoholahti landmark will be returned to its original location, and the restoration project of Helsinki’s oldest public artwork is nearing completion. 

The restored Ruoholahti landmark, sculptor Martti Aiha’s (1952–2023) Rumba, will be returned to its original location in November 2024. However, the sculpture will be covered until the construction work in the area is completed in spring 2025.

Rumba was relocated in 2020 to make way for construction work around the Rumbanaukio Square in Salmisaari. During this time, the sculpture has been restored. Upon its return, the sculpture’s supporting structure will be rebuilt in the square and the artwork will be repainted, and external lighting will be added. 

Rumba is a classic of contemporary sculpture and one of Finland’s most significant public artworks. Standing 15 metres tall, this black-painted aluminium sculpture in Salmisaari draws its inspiration from the “rumba” of the passing traffic. Aiha’s entry won Alko Oy’s open competition in 1990, and the company donated the completed work to the City of Helsinki in 1992.

Martti Aiha was a versatile Finnish sculptor who was interested in urban planning and the challenges of public art. His works often featured flame-like shapes, as seen in Rumba.  

The Stone of the Empress’ bronze parts moved for conservation 

The City of Helsinki’s art collection includes more than 500 public artworks that span three centuries. HAM maintains the artworks together with the city’s Urban Environment Division. The aim is to preserve the artworks for as many future generations as possible.

This past year, one of the works under restoration has been Helsinki’s oldest public artwork, The Stone of the Empress, located in the Helsinki Market Square. The decorative cast-iron profiles surrounding the obelisk have already been renovated and the stone steps straightened. The next phase began on Friday 25 October 2024, when the bronze elements were transported for cleaning and re-gilding. The sculpture will be returned to its place after conservation, at the beginning of 2025.

The Stone of the Empress was designed by Carl Ludvig Engel (1778–1840). The red granite obelisk was erected in the Helsinki Market Square in 1835 to commemorate Empress Alexandra’s (the German-born wife of Nicholas I) first visit to Helsinki. The obelisk is topped with a gilded bronze globe and a double-headed eagle representing the Russian empire. The eagle was designed by Magnus von Wright (1805–1868), who is famed for his paintings of birds. 

HAM Helsinki Art Museum coordinates the restoration of The Stone of the Empress, which is carried out in cooperation with the City of Helsinki’s Urban Environment Division. The Stone of the Empress and Rumba are part of the City of Helsinki’s art collection, which is managed and curated by HAM.