Raisio school receives €100,000 sculpture by artist behind Mauno Koivisto memorial

A new school in Raisio, southwestern Finland, has been gifted a €100,000 sculpture by renowned artist Kirsi Kaulanen, known for creating the memorial to former President Mauno Koivisto, Yle reports.

The six-metre-tall stainless steel work, titled Tiedonpuu (Tree of Knowledge), was donated by the Eero Rantas Art Friends Association to Tiedonpuisto School, a newly completed facility for grades 5–9. The association chose the school to inspire its students, calling youth “the hope of life.”

Kaulanen, whose works include the Välittäjä (Mediator) memorial for Koivisto and the Gaia sculpture at Helsinki Music Centre, described the piece as a playful, colourful representation of a pine tree—symbolising stability and Finnish identity. Its polished surfaces and layered design incorporate silhouettes of endangered local plants, such as the rare kissankäpälä (cotton rose).

“I wanted it to spark imagination, to be open to interpretation,” Kaulanen said. The artwork explores themes of nature’s memory, knowledge transfer, and interconnectedness, drawing on research about underground root networks that share information across forests.

Leena Kortesalo of the donor association highlighted the school’s modern, innovative design as a key reason for the gift. The sculpture, installed near the main entrance, was unveiled on Kukanpäivä (Flower Day), a traditional celebration tied to the late Eero Rantas, whose art collection funds the association’s projects.

Kaulanen advocated for public art in schools, calling it essential for enriching daily environments. “It would be wonderful if every school had access to it,” she said.