Rakkaus ja valppaus (Aistit) / Love and Alertness

In ‘Love and Alertness’, Tapio Junno (1940-2006) has reduced the human figure to basic symbols. The mouth, ear and eye set atop columns appear as the totems of the fragmented Western world. Appearing to be separate, these symbols of the senses are nevertheless attached to the same pedestal, allowing the viewer to make the connection between them. The senses complement each other and act together. Indeed, the name ‘Love and Alertness’ implies an idea of unity and wholeness. The work has become extremely popular with children. It offers a wonderful place to play and in the heat of the summer, children can cool down in the surrounding pool. The sculpture is dated 1976 and it is cast in bronze. It belongs to the City of Helsinki’s art collection, which is managed and curated by HAM.