Katse tulevaisuuteen / Eyes to Future

In Kari Juva’s sculpture, a mother holds up a child who is the size of an infant, but otherwise just like a grown-up. The work symbolises the central role of the parent in a child’s development and growth. Juva has also addressed the theme of mother and child in his earlier works.

This work depicting a mother and child is a tribute to the people who created a high-class system of public health care for children and young people in Finland. The work was commissioned by a committee founded for the purpose in 2007. The project was funded by the Signe and Ane Gyllenberg Foundation, the Finnish Cultural Foundation, the Niilo Helander Foundation, Lemminkäinen Plc., the Finnish Medical Society Duodecim, the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation, the Pediatric Research Foundation, the Paulo Foundation and the Arvo and Lea Ylppö Foundation. The Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa covered the cost of the foundation of the piece, and the artist relinquished a part of her fee.

Eyes to the Future is placed in front of the Children’s Hospital in the district of Taka-Töölö. It was unveiled on 18 September 2008. It does not belong to the collections of the Helsinki Art Museum.