Iso käsi / Big Hand

Exterior open roof at main entrance.
The underside of the open-air roof in the front yard of the school is an adorned relief portraying different characters, which could be portraying space or star-like constellations or even microscopic underwater life. The bubbling sea of life is symbolic of the small children that play under it. The hand and feet-like patterns on the work also seem to show traces of movement or child-like activity.

Stig Baumgartner’s (1969-) work is intended to transmit joy. The slightly topsy-turvy nature of the characters on their head, overlapping, interlocked, or hiding behind each other is playful and somewhat childlike. The work should cause one to stop and look, as there is much to be discovered in it’s composition.

The material of the work is tinted plywood which has been carved, chiselled and layered to form the relief. The patterns are outlined with coloured tints and varnish.

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