Tea for two

The Garden of Eden exhibition was opened on 8th June 2004 at Art Museum Meilahti. On occasion of the opening, the atmospheric bronze sculpture “Tea for Two” was unveiled in the garden of the Art Museum Meilahti.

The table is decked for tea with two tea cups, a samovar and a candlestick. Water flows abundantly from the objects on the table, including from the spout of the samovar, over the table top and then over the sides of the table causing an illusion of a delicately draping, lace tablecloth.

The artist, Kalle Hamm (b. 1969), has described his work as follows: ” ‘Tea for Two’ is an intrinsic part of it’s environment. The history of the Meilahti villa area descends from the time of the Russian rule, from which traces have been left till the present day. The building of villas, estates, their parks and gardens can be interpreted as a romantic endeavour to reconstruct a bygone paradise – a harmonious place of idyllic exuberance.

Considering Meilahti’s genius loci and it’s various historical roots ‘Tea for Two’ can be likened to a kind of cornucopia, or horn of plenty. It is a place of relaxation, where one can sit down and enjoy the old garden milieu and Tchekov-like atmosphere: It’s doesn’t matter that the lace cloth has holes – nobody notices it during the dusk hours. The most important thing is to be together for a moment and forget the stresses of the working day.”

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