Kouvola to dismantle Anu Pentik sculpture after weather damage

Kouvola will dismantle a green ceramic sculpture by Finnish artist Anu Pentik in October because it has not withstood changing weather conditions, Yle reports. The sculpture stands outside Kouvolatalo, a cultural building in Kouvola.

The city bought three of Pentik’s sculptures for the Poikilo art museum’s collection in 2012. The works were placed between the summer theatre and the building’s main entrance and cost 24,570 euros in total.

The four-metre-high fantasy figures, all titled Ogoh-Ogoh, are made from recycled ceramics, polystyrene, wire mesh, rapid-setting concrete and silicone cement. The blue and green sculptures remain in place, while the white sculpture was removed from the collection in June 2024.

The green sculpture’s vertical and horizontal joints have cracked, allowing moisture to enter its interior and creating a hollow space. The work cannot withstand continued dampness and freezing during winter, according to condition assessments carried out in August.

A thorough restoration would require dismantling the sculpture and rebuilding it to withstand seasonal changes. According to the city’s decision, this would significantly alter the work from Pentik’s original idea. The museum therefore concluded that continued repairs were no longer practical.

Poikilo’s collection policy allows works to be removed if they are damaged beyond repair. Museum director Anu Kasnio said removing works from the collection is extremely rare and is done only after careful consideration.

Pentik has approved dismantling the parts of the Ogoh-Ogoh works if necessary for safety reasons. The green sculpture’s parts will be disposed of as construction waste.